Celebrating Today’s Leaders Taking Innovation to New Heights
As the dust begins to settle post-pandemic, the consumer goods industry has emerged with a renewed definition of success. While some CGs retreated in the face of their new, complicated realities, other innovative leaders welcomed the challenge, fast-tracking technology implementations while not worrying about failing fast.
Those are the types of individuals who are featured in this year's class of visionary executives. Read about their latest projects and implementations that prompted glowing nominations from their peers, partners and industry networks. Plus, learn their greatest accomplishments, what they are most optimistic about, and what technology they cannot live without.
Biggest Accomplishment
Gagnier has overseen the design and implementation of a large and complex Oracle Cloud transformation, replacing all core finance, supply chain and planning systems for the producer and marketer of quality wines in Canada. This project successfully went live on time and on budget — no easy feat for a mid-market company, especially in the midst of a global pandemic. Simultaneously, Gagnier oversaw a revamping of APL's e-commerce and digital marketing capabilities, launched ice wine sales into China, and supported a significant expansion in the number of product offerings. All of this helped its growth in revenue and market share, while also supporting the successful shift to fully remote working.
2021 Optimism
“I think that I'm most optimistic about and very focused on the digital economy,” Gagnier says, “with everything around us and what we’ve experienced worldwide has given a boost to digital, and that is helpful to everyone.” Consumers who never wanted to try digital are now wondering why they never ordered groceries online before.
Greatest Tech Impact
Gagnier explains that many mid-market CGs have underinvested in technology and will struggle to keep up with disruptors. “I think cloud technology provides a way for mid-market companies to be able to get there quickly.” Whether it’s SAP or Oracle or Microsoft, having one platform to handle everything is the end goal, but it can be complex. “If they can though, they’ll be able to survive.”
Head of IT Transformation
Andrew Peller Limited (APL)
2.5 years with company
and in current role
MICHAEL GAGNIER
Biggest Accomplishment
Building a brand from the ground up — and all without any outside investment — has been Fishbain’s biggest accomplishment to date. “We started out of the kitchen in our old apartment and in a span of just seven years, Spread The Love has emerged as a top-performing CPG in the natural food space.” In fact, its NAKED Organic Peanut Butter is the best-selling organic peanut butter on Amazon. In addition to being sold internationally, “we are well-diversified in the various domestic channels we distribute through (retail, DTC and foodservice).”
2021 Optimism
Spread The Love just launched its Almond Butter Granola — its first offering outside of a spreadable category. “Given the upward trends in healthy, clean eating and mindful consumerism in 2021, I feel that the timing is absolutely perfect for this low-sugar superfood granola.”
Greatest Tech Impact
“I see mobile/SMS marketing having a big impact on staying connected and engaged with our loyal customers,” says Fishbain. “This is huge for us because we love getting feedback and providing more value in return to those who buy our products.”
Co-Founder & President
Spread The Love
7 years with company
and in current role
Val Fishbain
New Quarantine Hobby
“I’ve taken up playing the guitar badly.” Gagnier adds, thanks to the help of YouTube and Zoom. He can now play a few songs, and it helps him to relax.
Most Necessary Tech
The iPhone, “that is for sure. I have a few apps I seem to use a lot, and as much as I don’t want to have to always be connected, it’s just so useful.”
Little-Known Fact
Gagnier was in the military when he was younger, and a lot of his career has been project management. He notes that his discipline and learnings have been helpful, but people wonder why he always references the military.
Memorable Mentor
In Canada, Gagnier worked with Heather Reisman at a large retail book chain called Indigo when he was quite young in his career. “She just let me do things that most companies wouldn’t let someone do without experience.” As a result, he was able to tackle things early that many are fearful of, and he is thankful for that learning opportunity.
New Quarantine Hobby
Fishbain used to draw a lot when she was a child, picking it up again during the pandemic. “I discover a lot about myself in the process and it’s an activity I get to enjoy with my two daughters.”
Most Necessary Tech
“It sounds cliché, but I cannot live without my iPhone.” In an ever-more digitally connected economy, Fishbain can work, shop and run errands all on her phone.
Little-Known Fact
“My other dream job would be a professional karaoke singer.”
Memorable Mentor
Fishbain credits Ethelbert Williams, director of e-commerce sales at Boston Beer, as a mentor. Williams saw her company vision from the start “even when I was not able to verbally articulate it then,” she says. “As a person of color and an immigrant like myself, Ethelbert has been a solid role model for me. Being raised half of my life here in the U.S., I rarely saw leaders that looked and talked like me, so it was difficult to see myself excel in different fields.” For Fishbain, Williams represented a person who had less privilege and advantage, and yet continues to outperform. “I am a better leader with Ethelbert’s support.”
Biggest Accomplishment
“The continued development and cohesiveness of our supply chain team” is Fenstermaker’s greatest accomplishment to date, especially in a remote-working world during the most challenging supply landscape. “Operationally supporting the kind of continued growth success that Spindrift experienced in 2020 would not have been possible without a best-in-class team.” The brand navigated an aluminum can shortage, extreme freight market fluctuations and COVID-driven co-packer and supplier interruptions, among other obstacles. However, it was still able to build the operational foundation for its 2021 Spindrift Spiked launch — a new venture to disrupt the hard seltzer category.
2021 Optimism
Fenstermaker is looking forward to the return and impact of socialization. Office culture, in-person supplier meetings, and the “general return of socialization on a personal level are all prospects that provide much hope and optimism over the coming months.”
Greatest Tech Impact
Forecasting is top-of-mind for Fenstermaker. It has always been a sales and operational priority, but the shifts in 2020 brought it even further to the forefront. “Spindrift’s positioning within its DTC infrastructure and grocery ACV allowed it to maintain and exceed growth rates in 2020, but it shone a light on the importance of SKU mix and locational inventory availability.” Spindrift has further focused internal and external resources on both subjective and objective forecasting approaches to find the right blend, critical for the next stage of growth.
Supply Chain Director
Spindrift Beverage Co., Inc.
6 years with company;
1 in current role
ERIC FENSTERMAKER
New Quarantine Hobby
Running in the mornings is Fenstermaker’s latest hobby to stick post-pandemic. “It started as a way to repurpose time I would normally be commuting, but has turned into a great way to clear my head,” he adds.
Memorable Mentor
SVP of operations David Kimmell brought Fenstermaker into Spindrift six years ago. “Over the course of that time he has been an invaluable resource for supplier relationship tact, thoughtful long-range planning, and team and culture-building while allowing me the runway to meaningfully develop in my role and my career.”
Biggest Accomplishment
The transformation of its media organization to truly leading consumer experience for Mondelēz tops Halvorson’s list of achievements. “It has required a significant shift in mindset, capability building and deliverables,” he says. “Despite the complexity, the team has embraced the change and is designing new outputs, collaborating openly with partners, and pursuing audacious dreams. I am so proud of this team.”
2021 Optimism
“This year we launched our new production, data and technology infrastructure to support our global marketing organization,” explains Halvorson, adding that it is one of the most ambitious undertakings of its marketing function and the overall enterprise. The new model uses MediaMonks and Publicis to create a simple, more agile consumer content solution that sits at the forefront of creativity, media and data. It will deliver efficient and consistent use of assets across touchpoints; develop more effective digital assets fit for a platform with rich taste appeal; and create a higher volume of quality, personalized content.
Greatest Tech Impact
The promise of true “people-based and identity” marketing is now real — but only for brands that placed talent, tech and organizational commitment at the forefront, he says. This meant seeing that creating a true value exchange with consumers is more than just a shift to collecting more first-party data. “We made this a strategic priority with our technology, retailer and brand teams to actually use the data to understand our consumers and create experiences for them. It’s not so much the technology, but the enablement of it.”
Global VP, Consumer Experience
Mondelez International
4 years with company
and in current role
Jonathan Halvorson
New Quarantine Hobby
After a two-year break, Halvorson is back in the gym boxing three to four days a week. “It’s had a tremendous impact on my physical well-being, work-life balance and overall focus. It’s definitely going to stick.”
Most Necessary Tech
He can’t live without FaceTime: “In a normal year I circumvent the globe a time or two each year, but I don’t get to see my family nearly enough.” FaceTime enables him to connect and bring laughter to his two favorite 3-years-olds (Alice and Avery).
Little-Known Fact
Halvorson is a Broadway Super Fan. “I can’t sing. I can’t dance. But I can mouth all the words in the orchestra like a pro.”
Memorable Mentor
“There is no question that I’m who I am today because of Sean Finnegan, former head of Omnicom Media Group and Publicis Digital,” says Halvorson. “Sean added me to his staff in 2005, and I moved with him through five roles over two holding companies. Everything from how I frame a new corporate vision to how I run my town halls or sign my emails has been influenced by him.”
Biggest Accomplishment
Hill has provided the strategic vision to embark on a transformative journey to re-engineer Carhartt’s key business processes across the supply chain, order management, retail, finance and accounting, and master data including sourcing procurement, manufacturing and planning. But for Hill, “keeping a large digital transformation on track despite the pandemic” is his greatest accomplishment to date. Carhartt had simultaneous efforts to replace its ERP, e-commerce systems, and point-of-sale systems while building a new planning system, changing its fiscal year, and onboarding a new 3PL partner. “We have kept everything on track to a completion in May 2021 on a 100% remote basis.”
2021 Optimism
Hill says Carhartt will complete the transformation of key business processes and systems in 2021. This will enable the brand to react more quickly to evolving market conditions as the company continues to handle significant growth rates. “I look forward to having this strong foundational base under us. I continue to be very optimistic about the future of our business!”
Greatest Tech Impact
He believes that the continued democratization of advanced data science and analytics tools will become a key competitive differentiation. Companies that are able to deploy technology in this space will be able to gain insights and implement strategies and solutions at a far faster rate than those that do not.
CIO & SVP, Business Planning
Carhartt
5 years with company
and in current role
JOHN
HILL
Little-Known Fact
Hill is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration with one year left to go. “My dissertation subject is focused on understanding why digitalization efforts fail to consistently produce digital capabilities for companies.”
Memorable Mentor
“One of my first managers in the military really made sure I understood the importance of taking care of your teams, the importance of delegation, and the drive to constantly look for opportunities to be superior — not just good,” says Hill. She also helped him understand the importance of being self-reflective and direct.
New Quarantine Hobby
Apple Watch: “I run about 40 miles a week and this is a key part of managing my fitness levels. It also keeps me connected throughout the day, so I don’t always have to have my phone next to me.”
Biggest Accomplishment
“My biggest accomplishment has been the perseverance and consistency of starting a business from nothing and making it into a successful and thriving enterprise,” Hoskins explains. “The belief in a vision that I could become a CEO of a successful business in an industry that I had no knowledge or experience in.” When she decided to start Michele Foods from her great-great-great-great grandmother’s handed-down recipe, Hoskins was afraid, unsure and nervous. “My faith and belief that anything the mind can conceive could manifest through hard work and faith carried me to where I am today.” The true accomplishment is the product on the shelves in over 10,000 major retailers, the mentoring of more than 200 entrepreneurs “and the fact that I have created a legacy for my family.”
2021 Optimism
She’s optimistic about the future and the “opportunities that are afforded to anyone who has a dream and the determination to pursue that dream.”
Greatest Tech Impact
“I believe there are several. People are becoming more health conscious, and the way we eat, and the activities we engage in, have become very important,” says Hoskins. The way we get our information and share information will also have a great impact in the future. “The digital experience and the way we shop and receive our goods has become a very important part of life as we know it and will continue.”
CEO
Michele Foods
36 years with company
and in current role
Dr. Michele Hoskins
New Quarantine Hobby
“Cooking better and healthier, working out, reading more, and learning how to be
more understanding. They may not be hobbies in the sense of the word, but they have become good habits.”
Most Necessary Tech
“My cell phone!”
Little-Known Fact
Hoskins is very spiritual and loves to read and explore the unknown. “I am not outgoing as everyone thinks; I am most comfortable at home, a dog lover, and I love to garden.”
Memorable Mentor
Hoskins reveals several “smart, loving and giving” women mentors who didn’t know she was observing them from afar: Pat Harris, global diversity office for McDonald's, helped her understand what boards were looking for and extended her an invite to her first board for the Women Foods service organization. Enda Morris, president of Red Lobster, was a dear friend and mentor. Hady Ratner, president and founder of the Women Business Development Center, gave Hoskins guidance and direction early in her career.
Biggest Accomplishment
Ingram helped lead the AB InBev initiative in 2020 called “Save Pub Life” to help pubs and restaurants weather the pandemic. Consumers could purchase a gift card to spend at their local pub in the future, giving the pub cash immediately. “To incentivize donations, we doubled whatever they put in,” he says. In the U.K. donations totaled 1.2 million GBP, and as a global program they helped donate $10 million to bars and restaurants worldwide. “Built with our partner Tiger Pistol, we deployed a unique capability to provide hyper-localized social media marketing services at scale, running nearly 100,000 campaigns, and mobilized communities to support local businesses.”
2021 Optimism
“2021 will be the year of euphoria as people start returning to their pre-pandemic lifestyles with a new perspective on priorities, and with new technologies that emerged during the pandemic,” Ingram predicts. “I am confident AB InBev’s small and medium retail customers will thrive equipped with new DTC delivery, e-commerce and fintech tools, in turn supporting their communities.”
Greatest Tech Impact
Without a doubt, the greatest impact is the acceleration of DTC and e-commerce solutions. With consumer buying rapidly shifting online, every CPG has adapted more quickly than planned. “Local retailers, pubs, and restaurants are the lifeblood of our business and critical to their communities.” He adds that technologies that most effectively connect local retailers to local consumers and drive sales, such as hyper-localized social media marketing, digital storefronts, and streamlined delivery, “will have the biggest impact on business moving forward.”
Global Director,
Customer Experience
AB InBev
5 years with company;
2 in current role
DANIEL
INGRAM
Most Necessary Tech
Noise-cancelling headphones were critical when Ingram traveled a lot before the pandemic, and they remain his favorite piece of tech even today thanks to all the video calls with teammates around the world.
Little-Known Fact
Some colleagues may not know that Ingram loves live theater and saw his first Broadway show when he was seven with his grandparents. “I am counting down the days until I can see a live performance again!”
Biggest Accomplishment
Roy has led the development of the technology platforms and teams for AB InBev’s direct-to-consumer division from the ground-up for the last five years. In addition to hiring hundreds of engineers and launching dozens of organic ventures, this has also involved acquiring and integrating multimillion-dollar businesses — leading to $1 billion in incremental revenue for the beverage company. The company scaled its Ze Delivery platform user base more than 10-fold last year to handle 27 million orders annually, up from 1.6 million.
2021 Optimism
Roy notes the impact of COVID in the workplace has disproportionately affected women, and expects companies will be very intentional about bringing impacted groups back into the workforce as the pandemic concludes. “As a leader in technology, I believe it is our responsibility to ensure that we build a strong pipeline of diverse talent that includes underrepresented groups, such as women of color,” he says. “There is a big challenge ahead to empower women and build diversity, and I am optimistic about creating that future.”
Greatest Tech Impact
He has a strong interest in online-to-offline technologies that enable businesses to create meaningful and unique experiences for digital-first consumers. As part of this, he’s curious to explore both new data mesh techniques to allow businesses to create targeted in-store promotions when consumers walk in, and digital wallets that enable touchless payments and build loyalty when they walk out.
Chief Technology Officer, Direct-to-Consumer
AB InBev
5 years with company; 1 in current role
FRANCE
ROY
New Quarantine Hobby
He’s turned to tech for his fitness betterment, including a fitness band to track sleep and activity, MyFitnessPal for nutrition data, and the Fiit workout app.
Little-Known Fact
“I have a passion for incorporating meditation and Buddhist philosophy into life. They especially help me bring focus and clarity into what could be a stressful work environment. The benefits that these add in the areas of personal and professional development are truly priceless.”
Biggest Accomplishment
That’s an easy one — launching 8 Track Foods. Sadowsky, who has a background in food science, set out to reinvent what she viewed as a dated commodity: the can of beans. While many saw it as a stale industry, she saw the solution to many of the biggest problems the food industry faces, including food waste, plastic packaging and even climate change. “Seeing 8 Track Foods at Whole Foods is a dream come true!”
2021 Optimism
Entrepreneurs are always looking at glasses as half-full, so 8 Track has been focused on the opportunities arising during COVID-19. Chief among them was the impact it made in its community: With store shelves empty and food banks low on supplies, the company donated more than 200 cases of canned beans to local nonprofit organizations. “I am optimistic that this year we will share a smile — without masks — and grow our community partnerships.”
Greatest Tech Impact
Sadowsky praises product discovery platforms like RangeMe, which served a vital role in connecting brands and retailers during the pandemic, including enabling major retailers to discover 8 Track Foods in the early days of quarantine. “As the dust continues to settle, creating those brand and retailer connections will be a necessity. I imagine more innovative ways to facilitate those connections.”
MAGGIE SENG
SADOWSKY
Little-Known Fact
The Sadowsky family has a “Million-Dollar Idea Board” at the homestead. It was created by her daughter as a result of Sadowsky waking up with a new idea each morning, and now everyone shares their inventions.
Memorable Mentor
Being a consultant means receiving a window into all types of leadership — good and bad — and witnessing poor leadership has taught her to value everyone, regardless of title. “Excessively managing doesn’t help anyone and prevents you from leading your company.”
New Quarantine Hobby
Teaching teens! “Although I spend a lot of time with food, I never really had the time to teach my teenagers how to cook,” she says. “Quarantine created the opportunity to have pantry meal challenges and led to some interesting and memorable dinners together.”
Biggest Accomplishment
CAULIPOWER, a manufacturer of better-for-you products, has been in growth mode, and the company has navigated the accompanying challenges well. Hosseinzadeh cites his work as part of CAULIPOWER’s warehouse and logistics optimization initiative, which reduced costs by 37% and increased capacity by 60%, and incorporating Unioncrate’s Integrated Business Planning platform to achieve fill rates well above industry standards.
2021 Optimism
“Economic and supply chain normalization!” (We think we can all agree on that one!)
Greatest Tech Impact
He’s most excited about artificial intelligence tools that support and allow businesses to more effectively make decisions in planning, as well as “any technology that supports visibility to connected data points from shelf performance to production.”
VP, Supply Chain
CAULIPOWER
1.5 years with company
and in current role
BEN
HOSSEINZADEH
New Quarantine Hobby
Illustrating/drawing
Most Necessary Tech
Check another box for Apple as Hosseinzadeh points to his Apple Watch as the technology he can't live without.
Little-Known Fact
Hosseinzadeh is a black belt in karate.
Biggest Accomplishment
Li cites building the Native marketing team, which consisted of just two people when she joined (counting herself), as her biggest achievement. As the company expands, scaling this team has been necessary in order to support its success and growth ambitions. “It has been incredibly rewarding to see every individual team member achieve great results in their respective areas and continue to take on more responsibilities.”
2021 Optimism
She’s in good company as she looks for a return to some semblance of normalcy in the back half of 2021. “I'm hopeful this means that we will be able to explore more experiential marketing activations that we were not able to do in 2020,” Li notes. “Native is a really fun and dynamic brand, and the in-person events we conducted before COVID-19 were always raved about by our consumers and got great earned media.”
Greatest Tech Impact
First-party data! “Technology products and platforms that can help companies quickly unlock robust insights from their first-party data and translate that information into actionable steps for new user acquisition and retention will be immensely valuable.”
VP of Marketing
Native
2.5 years with company
and in current role
MENG
LI
Director, Global E-Commerce
General Mills
2 years with company
and in current role
KELLY
OLIN
Biggest Accomplishment
Olin cites her biggest accomplishment as driving the articulation of a global e-commerce strategy that accounts for market differences, identifies General Mills’ unique opportunities, and creates a path towards continued acceleration of its digital business.
2021 Optimism
She looks forward to seeing how the shift and speed of change we were all pushed into during 2020 translates to new ways of working long-term.
Greatest Tech Impact
“The pandemic showed all of us the importance of data in everything we do. As we all look towards recovery and a return of some form of ‘normal,’ data will continue to be our industry’s big unlock as we continue to tackle constantly shifting market dynamics.”
Memorable Mentor
She counts herself lucky for having had a few mentors who played a critical role in pointing out her unique value proposition for organizations at key moments in her career.
Most Necessary Tech
“It’s not original, but my phone. As the lines between work and home continued to blur this year, it was the enabler of a new level of flexibility in my life.”
Biggest Accomplishment
In order to address the myriad questions related to COVID-19’s impact, Raheem looked to bring dynamic modelling technology using the AutoML engine, along with NLP and NLG capabilities, to answer business questions on the fly. Parameters created in Jupyter allowed for dynamic interaction with business users to automatically receive visualizations without the dependency of building a dashboard — a tremendous unlock given the already-stretched teams. This also resulted in capturing actions to be taken for more targeted prescriptive insights from the data, which can be reused across other data sets.
2021 Optimism
Raheem applauds the flexibility of today’s new virtual/hybrid work environment. “This new lifestyle is an excellent way to integrate the passions of a professional and personal life. People are much more receptive to technology than ever before, and continue to adapt with innovation.”
Greatest Tech Impact
As AI is increasingly used across the enterprise, he sees great potential in the platforms that provide the average business user the ability to ask and answer questions using AI independently, with little training. Raheem cites such examples as AnswerRocket and Data Robot as those going beyond traditional machine learning to bring a personable and human behavior approach with NLP, NLG and visual insights.
Global Lead Data Scientist
Mondelez International
8 years with company;
3 in current role
ABDUL
RAHEEM
New Quarantine Hobby
A family who exercises together stays together. “My kids and I have converted traditional workout routines into fun and competitive workout routines. We look for new and creative ways to do exercises that require no weights, and have been building a ton of fun memories together.”
Little-Known Fact
“Earlier in my career, I would join companies only to learn about all the problems they had so I can later be the entrepreneur that solves them. This led to some very exciting opportunities, and I ended up becoming an intrapreneur instead, which I very much love now!”
New Quarantine Hobby
Remote work means goodbye commute, hello free time, as she’s been able to practice yoga more often than possible in years. “As we hopefully shift to a more flexible work schedule post-COVID, I hope to continue to dedicate more time to exercise and wellness.”
Most Necessary Tech
Yup, it’s that iPhone. “I run my life on my phone.”
President
8 Track Foods
2 years with company
and in current role
20
21
20
21
By: CGT Staff
You don’t want to miss this list of purpose-driven, exemplary leaders who are driving this industry forward, regardless of what comes next.
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