Rocco Papalia

As a senior executive with over 20 years of innovation experience in the CPG industry, Rocco has driven the development and launch of highly successful, award-winning products for companies like Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and Del Monte Foods (now Big Heart Pet Brands). Over the course of his career, Rocco has led critical technology innovations in ingredients, processes, packaging, and products. These innovations have yielded dozens of patents, competitively advantaged revenue growth, significant cost savings, and growing market share. Most recently, Rocco was recruited by a private equity group comprised of KKR, Vestar Capital Partners, and Centerview Capital to accelerate growth through innovation at Del Monte & Big Heart Pet Brands. Rocco played a critical role in the leadership of Big Heart’s rapid growth and eventual sale to JM Smucker and Del Monte Foods’ sale to Del Monte Pacific. Prior to his time with Big Heart, Rocco spent 24 years in R&D and Innovation at PepsiCo and led the entire R&D function as SVP of R&D for Frito Lay World Wide.