Rocco Papalia Email & Phone Number

Overland Park, Kansas, United States

Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

Florissant, Colorado, United States

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Dallas, Texas

Prometheus Innovation provides consulting and other services in the areas of Innovation, Strategy, and Leadership primarily in Consumer Packaged Goods businesses.

San Francisco CA

Recruited by PE ‘Blue Group’ comprised of KKR, Vestar Capital Partners, and Centerview Capital to accelerate growth through innovation and transformation; had executive leadership role in Del Monte’s spin-off to DMP, the $2.3B startup of Big Heart Pet Brands, and its ultimate sale to JM Smucker. Led all R&D and related functions for $2.3 Billion successor.

San Francisco CA

Lead all R&D and related technical functions for $4.3 Billion, private equity held food and pet care company. Responsible for growth-driving innovation for $2 Billion dollar processed fruit and vegetable business unit and for $2.3 Billion pet food and snacks business. Appointed Officer by the Board in March of 2013. Del Monte is held privately by KKR.

Worldwide

Established PepsiCo’s first Advanced Research organization for the development and deployment of new processing and packaging technology; defined overall vision, strategy, structure, and priorities. Built and led 90-person team; secured/managed $50M+ budget. Drove key initiatives, including building PepsiCo Value Innovation Center in India, pioneering.

North America

Led R&D, Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Nutrition, and Regulatory Affairs for $13B snack food division. Managed 1500-person staff and $120 million operating budget. Drove first-year sales of $5.8B via development/launch of 200+ products, including Lay’s Stax, Baked Lay’s, and Tostitos Scoops. Spearheaded market-transforming quality programs that doubled.

Dallas/Fort Worth Area

Established global R&D function, PepsiCo’s first fully integrated global function with borderless collaboration that persists today. Oversaw 1500-person staff and $120M budget.Headed global development and commercialization of Stax and 3-Ds, as well as introduced Lay’s, Doritos, and Cheetos into China, India, Thailand, and Brazil markets. Managed.

Started career as Process Engineer with rapid advancement through roles in support of various products/brands, including Pantene, Prell, Ivory, and Secret.