New York City Metropolitan Area
Passionate R&D leader with experience developing and commercializing innovation programs across a multitude of product categories, consumer segments, and manufacturing footprints. Consistently lead and build teams to deliver successful and profitable innovation, renovation, and productivity platforms under compressed timelines.
Lead and coach team in delivering innovation, renovation, productivity, and supply chain resiliency programs to deliver ~$2B Greek Yogurt portfolio and business priorities.
Manage and lead a talented team of managers and food scientists to deliver innovation, renovation, and productivity programs for $1B stirred dairy yogurt portfolio.
Oversee a diverse $700 M portfolio of innovation and renovation programs for the dry grocery category resulting from the consolidation of two R&D divisions under my leadership and increasing program and people responsibility. Formed monthly white space development sessions with the R&D team leading to the development of two innovation ideas that were proposed to major retailers and accepted for new item launches. Lead monthly cross functional innovation meetings with leadership to assess the technical and operations feasibility of innovation programs and to ensure readiness for stage gate progression. Built annual innovation goals for staff and catered to fit team members depending on development gaps and career goals which resulted in the promotion of a key team member.
Led teams in development of innovation and renovation platforms for Duncan Hines baking mixes, frostings, and fruit fillings which led to the launch of twenty new products in one year.
Responsible for leading team in product development of the $100M big bet innovation platforms leading to the launch of 12 new vegetable products and a new brand (Veggie Made) for Birds Eye on accelerated timelines. Formed cross functional team to identify external manufacturing capabilities not present within the internal network leading to the launch of new innovation platforms at external manufacturers. Unlocked additional innovation capacity via rapid qualification of an international supplier by repurposing plant equipment and adjusting process flows to enable stability of sauce.
Manage Smart Ones frozen nutrition meals team to deliver new product innovation and renovation portfolio. Managed retail condiment and sauce team and portfolio including product development, value engineering, and brand maintenance for US and Canadian products.
Built and managed a team of personnel that enabled brand maintenance product solutions for all ingredient shortage, supply, and quality issues across the entire portfolio of Heinz USA brands while taking on increased responsibility for productivity. Delivered ingredient shortage solutions from bench to production within hours of notification, enabling production maintenance across a portfolio of 100+ projects.
Managed a diverse portfolio of projects for Classico tomato pasta sauce and alfredo pasta sauce including; new product development, health and wellness initiatives, cost out, and brand maintenance projects. Delivered product launches and stage gate requirements while meeting nutrition, cost, timing, and consumer validation metrics.