Mary Havner

Background

About Mary Havner

Innovative leader in Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) with a proven track record in driving transformation, developing data backed long-term innovation pipelines, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver breakthrough results. I specialize in translating insights into actionable strategies that fuel growth, particularly in CPG food and beverage. With over a decade of CPG industry experience, with 8+ years in R&D and innovation, I have a demonstrated ability to design and execute strategic innovation frameworks using data-driven insights and the Stage Gate process. At Kraft Heinz, I successfully bridge Sales and R&D to align on shared objectives, integrating digital tools, market analytics, and consumer feedback into comprehensive go-to-market strategies. I’m passionate about driving sustainable growth by identifying unmet consumer needs and trends, and delivering innovation that not only meets market demands but also enhances the consumer experience. My experience leading teams, influencing senior leadership, and executing multi-year innovation pipelines has positioned me as a strategic partner in delivering profitable business results. Key accomplishments include: Managing a $48M P&L portfolio, partnering with R&D to deliver innovation, while leading pricing strategy and trade investment management to create sustainable, incremental growth. Spearheaded AI-driven projects, reducing R&D project scoping time by 30%. Led 20+ successful product launches, driving market share growth and exceeding sales expectations. Delivered $20MM+ in savings through operational improvements, value engineering, and enhanced product development processes. Co-created an award-winning technical onboarding program that boosted R&D productivity and improved talent retention. As I continue to grow professionally, my focus remains on leveraging data & insights to guide transformative innovation and sales strategies that ensure continued brand relevance and competitive advantage. I thrive in dynamic environments that require strategic agility and a deep understanding of market trends to bring visionary ideas to life.