Michael Cleavinger

Building teams that harness AI, ML, and analytics to power growth, efficiency, and smarter decisions

United States

About

Transformative leader with a passion for the customer, an aptitude for thriving in ambiguity, and proven experience building advanced analytics teams. Strategically drives results through AI, machine learning, deep learning, and rolling up his sleeves to create insights and prescriptive actions. Specialties: Advanced problem solving, tool development, and process improvement skills. Experience in brick and mortar and online retail merchandising, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), supply chain, final mile delivery, computer networking, business management, programming, analytics, data visualization, and problem solving. Experience in Six Sigma and Lean Process Improvement. Proficient in Python, R, SAS, Tensorflow, SQL, Tableau, PowerBI, VBA and VB.NET, Linux, Windows, aptitude for quickly learning and implementing new technologies. Expert in Microsoft Office applications.

Experience

  • PepsiCo (10 yrs 9 mos)
    • VP Global Data Science and Advanced Analytics
      May 2025 - Present · 1 yr 3 mos

      I lead a global organization of 300+ data science professionals across the US, Europe, LATAM, and India, driving transformative outcomes through AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics. My team delivers responsible, scalable, and business-embedded solutions that power PepsiCo’s most critical decisions across Commercial, Consumer, Finance, Supply Chain & Operations, and more. We transform data into insights and insights into action. Key focus areas include: • Building and scaling global ML/AI engines embedded in digital products and business processes (Integrated Business Planning, Revenue Growth Management, Financial Forecasting, Manufacturing, Consumer Insights, Sales Execution). • Advancing PepsiCo’s next generation of intelligent and agentic systems to deliver foresight, adaptability, and speed across functions and markets. • Driving global collaboration through archetype-based teams and reusable solutions that accelerate impact and reduce duplication. • Fostering a culture of innovation, growth, and collaboration - empowering talent across markets to thrive, develop, and deliver at scale. • Partnering with senior leaders across Commercial, Consumer, Finance, IBP, and Operations to ensure data science is a core driver of growth, profitability, and operational efficiency. This team is about more than just building models - we're shaping PepsiCo’s future, embedding intelligence into how we make, move, and sell, and ensuring our data science capability is a strategic engine for global growth.

    • Digital Hub Lead - Dallas
      Aug 2021 - Present · 5 yrs

      As the Digital Hub Lead in Dallas, I lead the strategy, development, and growth of a cutting-edge digital innovation hub. I focus on driving business transformation, enhancing customer experiences, and accelerating innovation by delivering impactful digital solutions. Working closely with global stakeholders, I ensure the hub’s initiatives are aligned with broader organizational goals and successfully integrate digital capabilities across the enterprise. • Lead the Dallas Digital Hub, establishing a vision and strategy that promotes innovation, collaboration, and rapid digital solution development. • Oversee the design and execution of digital initiatives, driving operational efficiency, customer engagement, and business growth. • Partner with leadership teams in data science, AI, product development, and IT to integrate digital tools and solutions across the enterprise. • Build and mentor high-performing teams of digital experts, fostering a culture of continuous learning, experimentation, and growth. • Drive the ideation, prototyping, and implementation of cutting-edge digital solutions, leveraging technologies such as AI, machine learning, cloud computing, and advanced analytics. • Serve as the primary liaison between the Dallas hub and senior global leaders, ensuring alignment of local initiatives with global digital strategies.

    • Head of Global Consumer and Commercial Data Science
      Aug 2021 - Sep 2025 · 4 yrs 2 mos

      I lead a globally distributed team of 140+ data science professionals driving transformative business outcomes through AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics that drive significant sales growth, profitability, and operational efficiency. I build high-performing global teams to deliver real-world business solutions. • Pioneered new global data science capability focused on enhancing commercial execution and making advanced analytics actionable, contributing to multi-million-dollar revenue growth through improved pricing strategies, market penetration, and resource allocation. • Led implementation of AI-driven solutions across Net Revenue Management, Pricing AI, and Promotion AI, resulting in optimized pricing and promotional strategies that delivered a 7% increase in profit margins across key markets. • Spearheaded advanced Marketing Mix Modeling and Audience Analysis, driving 10% improvement in marketing ROI through targeted audience segmentation, personalized campaigns, and strategic media investments. • Developed Sales Effectiveness models, enabling the sales teams to refine strategies and prioritize efforts that resulted in a 12% uplift in in-market execution performance. • Integrated AI-driven CRM analytics to enhance customer retention strategies, driving a 15% increase in customer lifetime value (CLV) and improve overall consumer engagement. • Led Assortment Optimization initiatives, using machine learning algorithms to analyze market data, shopper behavior, and sales trends, resulting in better product placement and a 5% boost in category sales for both PepsiCo and retail partners. I foster a culture of innovation and collaboration, driving the continuous development of advanced data science applications across critical business areas. My efforts have successfully transformed PepsiCo’s approach to data science, making it a core driver of commercial success and operational excellence.

  • Vice President - Marketing and Analytics at Murdoch Mason Executive Search Group
    Apr 2016 - Jan 2020 · 3 yrs 10 mos

    Create and develop marketing strategies to gain clients and increase prospects Launch Murdoch Mason technology and database integration Create an analytic culture with a focus on improving the recruiting experience and providing quality matches connecting people and businesses

  • JCPenney (3 yrs 1 mo)
    • Director of Customer Analytics & Insights
      Aug 2013 - Nov 2015 · 2 yrs 4 mos

      Led a team of 20+ data scientists, statisticians, and analytics professionals in the development of holistic customer profiles, business-driving analysis, and insight guiding CRM, loyalty, and credit card targeting strategies. Excelled in an environment of change management growing analytics team by +22% while headquarters workforce reduced by 9% and contributing to quarterly year over year sales growth of +6.1% compared to +1% quarterly sales growth for the closest competitor. Led effort to rebuild +80MM customer data warehouse from the ground up in the cloud. Deployed enterprise visual analytics capabilties (enterprise tableau server). Created an enterprise analytics team. Worked with c-suite to develop strategies, create and implement tests, and formulate go forwards plans and strategies. Implemented and championed advanced data modeling techniques to mine and identify trends suggesting new marketing & business opportunities. Increased marketing ROI by 23% while reducing marketing budget by 16%. Led team from providing descriptive analytics to predictive and prescriptive analytics driving actionable insights. Used predictive modeling and analytics to rethink and implement new customer-centric business strategies and marketing campaigns. Recognized and placed in JCPenney's 'Top Talent' program.

    • Sr. Manager - CRM Data Analytics
      Nov 2012 - Aug 2013 · 10 mos

      Improve knowledge of the customer and targeted marketing campaigns to customers, loyalty members, and credit card holders using data driven decisions, statistical modeling, technology implementation, and creative solutions. Using SQL and SAS, discovered insights and created data driven recommendations and business plans from data sets of varying size and origination (structured and semi-structured data) Improved customer targeted incremental response rate by 35% Implemented and championed new customer grouping identification for targeting and analytics Performed ethnographic and demographic analysis to assist and direct customer targeting and analytics (descriptive and predictive) Onsite SAS Administrator for SAS windows (Base, Enterprise Guide, Enterprise Miner), unix (Base), and mainframe

  • Amazon (1 yr 4 mos)
    • Program Manager for US Delivery Performance
      Aug 2012 - Oct 2012 · 3 mos

      Managed delivery performance for all US carriers Managed team made up of local and international team members Identified and implemented process improvements to improve the customer's package delivery experience while decreasing costs and delivery time Created, designed, and managed delivery performance metrics Worked with cross functional teams to improve customer experience across varying projects and programs Presented delivery performance and customer analytics to Senior Management

    • Program Manager and Business Analyst
      Jul 2011 - Aug 2012 · 1 yr 2 mos

      Managed delivery performance, line haul configuration, and capacity management of regional carriers. Launched new regional carriers. Identified opportunity to reduce capacity constraint costs for regional carriers, implemented process which reduced capacity constraint costs by 73% year over year. Increased regional carrier capacity by 78% for carriers I directly managed. Managed small internal team. Analyzed, created, and presented business plans for new opportunities and expansion of current projects. Created and generated Business Intelligence tools/reports. Created and implement new plans and strategies. Created customer service measurements and applied customer service survey for regional and national residential package carriers.

  • Target (4 yrs 1 mo)
    • Data Solutions Analyst
      May 2010 - Jun 2011 · 1 yr 2 mos

      Developed methodologies and tools in collaboration with partners throughout Target to support Merchandising metric and reporting needs. Streamlined and improved efficiency of work through development of reporting tools that are sustainable and easy to use. Develop best methods and institutionalization of reporting tools for Merchandising. Worked with partners and clients to understand and anticipate business needs for development of reports and tools. Participated actively in cross team knowledge sharing. Participated in special project initiatives of a cross functional and cross company nature as assigned.

    • Senior Business Analyst
      Nov 2009 - May 2010 · 7 mos

      Created sustainable innovative business processes and efficiencies resulting in time savings of over 125 hours a week while increasing process effectiveness. Partner with domestic and international teams to create and implement tools and efficiencies. Determine and buy online assortment in varying Women’s RTW businesses for Target.com. Mentor and train new business analysts to Target.com. Manage and forecast inventory needs for over 8,000 active items on Target.com. Partner with domestic and international vendors to secure product. Analyze business trends and metrics to create action plans which assist in maximizing profitability.

    • Business Analyst
      Jun 2007 - Nov 2009 · 2 yrs 6 mos

      Managed and forecasted inventory for over 8,000 active items on Target.com. Partnered with domestic and international vendors to secure product. Analyzed business trends and metrics and created action plans which assisted in maximizing profitability.