In this edition of our IFS Faces blog, we introduce Chryssa Dimitriadis, Director of Standard Management and Deputy Managing Director. With twelve years of experience in food safety, certification, and international standards development, Chryssa helps shape IFS Standards, development programs, technical documents, and future-oriented solutions for global supply chains

An international background shaping a global perspective

Born in Greece and raised in a multicultural environment with both Greek and French citizenship, Chryssa attended bilingual schools from an early age. This international background fostered her openness to different cultures, perspectives and ways of working, qualities that continue to shape her professional approach today.

Interested in food sciences and microbiology, she studied Food Technology and Microbiology at AgroParisTech in Paris. During her studies and first professional experiences, she developed a strong interest in food safety and the certification sector. To complement her scientific background with business expertise, she later completed a finance certification at ESCP Business School.

Building expertise in food safety and certification

Before joining IFS, Chryssa gained professional experience at the certification body Mérieux NutriSciences France, where she worked on food safety, quality management and regulatory topics for retailers and suppliers. Here, she gained valuable insights into certification processes, learned to manage stakeholder expectations and to identify key challenges companies face in maintaining compliance, transparency, and consumer trust. These insights further strengthened her passion for food safety and international certification systems, ultimately leading her to join IFS.

Growing with IFS

Chryssa joined IFS ten years ago, beginning her journey in auditor management at the French office. Over the years, she took on new responsibilities, first as IFS Food Standard Manager, then as Head of Standard Management. In 2022, she was appointed Director of Standard Management and, more recently, took on the role of Deputy Managing Director.

In her current position, she leads an international team of 17 project managers responsible for developing IFS normative documents, including standards and doctrines. Her department also creates supporting materials, such as guidelines and training content, and develops new solutions to address emerging sustainability regulations and ESG requirements.

Bringing stakeholders together across borders

A central part of Chryssa’s role is fostering collaboration between retailers, industry representatives, certification bodies and international organisations. She works closely with stakeholders, including the French retail federation FCD and French retailers, and leads two stakeholder forums: the French Working Group and the International Technical Committee. These groups bring together representatives from different markets to discuss developments, align expectations and build consensus before the publication of technical documents.

In addition, Chryssa represents IFS in international forums and organisations, including the European Cooperation for Accreditation, the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated and the Global Food Safety Initiative, where she is a member of the Benchmarking and Harmonisation Working Group. Through this work, she contributes to strengthening trust, harmonisation and transparency within certification systems worldwide.

Driving future-oriented solutions

For Chryssa, one of the most rewarding aspects of her role is contributing to solutions that help companies and retailers address food and product safety, as well as evolving sustainability and regulatory requirements. Working closely with retailers, certification bodies, industry representatives, and international organisations enables her to unify diverse perspectives and support harmonised approaches across global supply chains. She particularly values the international dimension of her role, where collaboration with stakeholders from different countries fosters continuous improvement, innovation, and long-term trust in IFS. At the same time, she collaborative company culture at IFS, which fosters ongoing growth and development.

Read more about Chryssa's appointment as Deputy Managing Director