Ram Pande
Sr. Manager Corporate Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs
Mumbai
Summary
Proactive and meticulous professional with over 15 years of experience in cosmetic & personal care product industry. Proficiencies in cosmetic regulations, audits, training and process improvement. Customer-oriented team player with demonstrated success in launching multiple cosmetic products.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
3
3
Languages
Work History
Sr Manager- CQA & Regulatory Affairs
Maxima Solutions
03.2024 - Current
- Established strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, ensuring long-term partnerships and repeat business.
- Implemented and developed operational standards and procedures.
- Led cross-functional teams to achieve project milestones and deliver high-quality results.
- Launched quality assurance practices for each phase of development
- Build and maintain a fit-for-purpose QMS for cosmetic products to ISO 22716, GMP, and customer-specific quality manuals.
- Act as a single point of accountability for customer quality interactions with cosmetic customers' technical questionnaires, supplier-quality questionnaires (SQQ), specification alignment, change-notification protocols (Product or Process Change Notification / Specification Change Notification), and audit responses.
- Respond to ESG and sustainability quality requirements: EcoVadis, Sedex/SMETA Pillar 4, and customer-specific sustainability requirements.
- Support documentation for animal-testing-free (Leaping Bunny / EU ban compliance), microplastic-free, vegan, halal, and clean-beauty claims as required by customers.
- Manage product renewals, license approvals/renewals, facility approvals, and people approvals, as applicable.
- Partner with Manufacturing and Quality to drive regulatory compliance, and to ensure authority inspection readiness at all times.
Manager - CQA & Regulatory Affairs
Tata Unistore Limited
05.2022 - 12.2023
- Maintain readiness for Cosmetic Rule, LM & AYUSH (India), EU, ASEAN (Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines & Myanmar), Bangladesh, MENA (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Morocco, Kuwait & Qatar) & South Africa, EU Cosmetics Regulation, MoCRA (US FDA ), ASEAN Cosmetic Directive and equivalent frameworks.
- Led the qualification and onboarding of contract manufacturers (CMOs) and key suppliers in India and abroad, with a focus on developing high-quality cosmetic products, and building a resilient supply chain.
- Provided expert review and approval of cosmetic and personal care formulations, labeling, claims, advertising, and promotional materials, ensuring scientific substantiation, and regulatory compliance.
- Provided strategic guidance, training, and influence to cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders to drive informed decision-making on existing cosmetic products and future launches.
- Designed, deployed, and continuously improved Personal Care–specific quality competency training modules covering ISO 22716, data integrity, RSL (Restricted Substance List) management, and global cosmetic regulations.
Executive- CQA & Regulatory Affairs
Marico Limited
01.2017 - 05.2022
- Managed Change Control processes, and ensured timely stakeholder notifications and approvals prior to implementation.
- Established COPQ baselines for the Personal Care SKU portfolio, drove significant cost optimization initiatives, and presented performance trends and improvement actions to leadership.
- Led customer complaint management through root-cause analysis using 7 QC tools, implemented effective CAPA actions, and presented monthly performance insights to commercial and operations leadership.
- Coordinated Cosmetic Product Safety Reports (CPSR) and CPNP notifications with stakeholders and external agencies to
- Ensured timely regulatory compliance, and product launch readiness.
- Provided regulatory guidance to R&D during product, process, and packaging development, and reviewed formula proposals to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
- Led quality assurance for technology transfer, scale-up, and commercialization of new personal care and cosmetic products, ensuring manufacturing compliance, regulatory adherence, product safety, and robust stage-gate quality approvals for a successful market launch.
- Participated in cosmetic industry associations and cross-functional working groups to support regulatory, quality, and business-critical initiatives through collaborative problem-solving.
- Prepared a consolidated monthly Management Information System (Personal Care quality scorecard) covering CoPQ, complaint trends, audit findings, OOS rate, OTD-Q (on-time-and-quality delivery), customer score on quality, and CAPA closure.
Executive- Developmental Quality Assurance
VVF (India) Limited
03.2015 - 01.2017
- Prepared and maintained customer-specific quality and regulatory dossiers, including CoA templates, technical data sheets, REACH, IFRA, Prop 65, RSPO, Halal, Kosher, vegan, allergen, nanomaterial, and nitrosamine compliance declarations, to support global customer and regulatory requirements.
- Acted as the primary regulatory representative for authorities and external customers, driving the resolution of compliance, regulatory, and product-related matters.
- Reviewed and approved artwork, labeling, and product claims for cosmetic and personal care products to ensure regulatory compliance, and scientific substantiation.
Officer - Corporate Quality Assurance
HRIPL Pvt Ltd
01.2013 - 03.2015
- Vendor audit and compliance: Co-created and collaborated with the vendors and contract manufacturers in implementing best practices and achieving compliance.
- Ensured timely and first-time-right product launch through efficient technology transfer and effective coordination between cross-functional teams.
- Developed and strengthened robust quality documentation systems, including SOPs, specifications, COAs, batch records, and regulatory dossiers, to ensure compliance, traceability, and operational excellence.
Education
Post Graduate Diploma - Total Quality Management
ICFAI University
Tripura 04.2001 -
Master of Technology - Biotechnology
Vellore University
Vellore, India 04.2001 -
Bachelor of Pharmacy - Pharmacy
Amravati Unversity
Yavatmal, India 04.2001 -
Skills
Quality assurance auditor (ASQ)
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Assessor
RBNQA-Assessor
Certified PCQI for human food
Compliance expertise in personal care regulations
Stakeholder collaboration
Continuous process refinement
Compliance and risk management
Timeline
Sr Manager- CQA & Regulatory Affairs
Maxima Solutions
03.2024 - Current
Manager - CQA & Regulatory Affairs
Tata Unistore Limited
05.2022 - 12.2023
Executive- CQA & Regulatory Affairs
Marico Limited
01.2017 - 05.2022
Executive- Developmental Quality Assurance
VVF (India) Limited
03.2015 - 01.2017
Officer - Corporate Quality Assurance
HRIPL Pvt Ltd
01.2013 - 03.2015
Post Graduate Diploma - Total Quality Management
ICFAI University
04.2001 -
Master of Technology - Biotechnology
Vellore University
04.2001 -
Bachelor of Pharmacy - Pharmacy
Amravati Unversity
04.2001 -