Chief R&D & Innovation Executive | Breakthrough Portfolio Creation & Open Innovation Leader | Former Hershey & P&G Global R&D SVP Driving Profitable Growth

Overview

Innovation and R&D leader with a career spanning global leadership roles at iconic consumer brands. Experience includes serving as Chief R&D Officer for a major global confectionery company and holding multiple Global Director roles across beauty, personal care, food, and beverage categories. Brings a rare combination of technical mastery, strategic vision, and people leadership to building sustainable innovation engines and high-performing organizations.

Short Bio

Former Chief R&D Officer and global R&D executive with deep expertise in innovation strategy, product development, and organizational transformation. Recognized for delivering profitable growth through breakthrough portfolios and open innovation.

What I Bring

Executive leadership of global R&D and innovation organizations
Proven ability to deliver profitable growth through breakthrough product portfolios
Transformation of R&D teams from service models to innovation thought leadership
Deep expertise in open innovation, integrated design, and capability building
Strong business acumen connecting innovation to commercial outcomes
Inspirational, collaborative leadership style that empowers high-performing teams
Cross-category experience spanning food, confectionery, beauty, and personal care

Key Technologies & Product Expertise

Consumer packaged goods innovation platforms
Product formulation and process development
Integrated product and packaging design
Open innovation and external partnerships (Connect & Develop)
Sensory-led product development
Portfolio management and innovation productivity systems
Organizational capability building and R&D transformation

Titles Held

Senior Vice President & Chief R&D Officer, The Hershey Company, 2013-2021
Vice President, Global R&D, The Hershey Company, 2012-2013
Global Director, Skin Care R&D, Procter & Gamble, 2011-2012
Global Director, Olay & Venus Brand Franchise R&D, Procter & Gamble, 2010-2011
Global Director, Cosmetics & Skin R&D, Procter & Gamble, 2008-2010
Global Director, Deodorants & Personal Care R&D, Procter & Gamble, 2004-2008
Associate Director, Coffee New Business Development R&D, Procter & Gamble, 1999-2004
Category Associate Director, Coffee & Peanut Butter R&D, Procter & Gamble, 1994-1999
Section Head / Engineer, Coffee Product Development, Procter & Gamble, 1983-1994

Career Highlights

Led global innovation portfolios that delivered top-quartile CPG growth during tenure as Chief R&D Officer
Transformed a 175-person R&D organization into an innovation thought leader, improving innovation productivity by 30%+
Increased portfolio sufficiency by 50% and extended visibility from 15 months to 4+ years
Built and led global R&D organizations of up to 110 people across six countries
Delivered breakthrough innovations including Olay ProX, Clinical Strength deodorants, and Home Café coffee platform
Enabled premium pricing and multi-year share growth through disruptive product platforms

Education & Professional Certifications

Bachelor of Chemical Engineering, with Honors, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1983

Languages

English- Native

Impact

Built and led global R&D organizations that consistently delivered profitable, top-quartile growth through innovation.
Created and scaled breakthrough innovation portfolios that reshaped categories and enabled premium pricing.
Transformed R&D culture, capability, and productivity to position organizations for sustained long-term growth.
Advanced open innovation and integrated product/package design as core enterprise capabilities.
Influenced industry and community through board leadership, civic service, and technical contributions.

Expert Details