10 Mars R&D leaders
Nici Bush, Chief Innovation, Science and Technology Officer at Mars, is one of these Mars R&D leaders, who hold officer, senior director and director roles in research and development at the company. A reader can learn how R&D leaders work at Mars from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Anuya Vadnerkar
LinkedInExperience: Director R&D · Mars
Anuya Vadnerkar has been Director R&D at Mars since December 2025, based in Battle Creek, Michigan. Anuya Vadnerkar was Director R&D Value & Technology Kellanova Company at Kellanova from 2023 to 2025 and held the title Director R&D Value Innovation & Technology at Kellogg Company from 2022 to 2025.
Cristabel Ramos Tirado
LinkedInExperience: R&D Director - Global Innovation · Mars
Cristabel Ramos Tirado has been R&D Director - Global Innovation at Mars since January 2026, based in the Nashville Metropolitan Area, and was Head of Emerging Categories at Mars from 2024 to 2026. Cristabel Ramos Tirado was Senior Manager, Beverage Design Innovation and Product Experience at Starbucks from 2021 to 2024 and Head of Seasonal Innovation and Product Design at Ferrara from 2019 to 2021.
Eric Daffron
LinkedInExperience: R&D Director - Dry and C&T Pocess Development · Mars Petcare US
Eric Daffron has been R&D Director - Dry and C&T Pocess Development at Mars Petcare US since August 2025, based in Franklin, Tennessee, and held the title Associate Director R&D - Deployment there from 2021 to 2025. Eric Daffron was Sr. R&D Manager - Dry & C&T Process Development and Implementationn at Mars Petcare US from 2019 to 2021.
Giovanna Hernandez
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director of R&D · Mars
Giovanna Hernandez has been Senior Director of R&D at Mars since May 2026, based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and also held the title Sr Director R&D Frozen Foods at Mars from November 2025 to August 2026. Giovanna Hernandez was Sr R&D Director at Kellanova from 2024 to 2026 and Director R&D. MorningStar Farms and Incogmeato at Kellogg Company from 2021 to 2024.
Haimanot (Haimi) Bekele, Ph.D.
LinkedInExperience: Director R&D-Global Product Discovery & Applications · Mars
Haimanot Bekele has been Director R&D-Global Product Discovery & Applications at Mars since December 2020, based in Chicago, Illinois, and was Director R&D-Foundational Science at Mars from 2018 to 2020. Haimanot Bekele was Director Color Cosmetics R&D at Coty from 2016 to 2018 and Section Head Color Cosmetics R&D at Procter & Gamble from 2015 to 2016.
Hillary Baucom, M.B.A
LinkedInExperience: PNNA R&D Director of Current Business for Wet and C&T · Mars
Hillary Baucom has been PNNA R&D Director of Current Business for Wet and C&T at Mars since July 2026, based in the Nashville Metropolitan Area. Hillary Baucom was Sr. Principal Scientist- PNNA Formulation & Sustainability R&D Manager at Mars from 2023 to 2026, Senior Scientist there from 2021 to 2023 and Product Development Scientist there from 2019 to 2021.
Justin Corney
LinkedInExperience: R&D Director - C&T Category · Mars
Justin Corney has been R&D Director - C&T Category at Mars since June 2026, based in the Nashville Metropolitan Area. Justin Corney was Associate Director Product Development at Mars from 2025 to 2026, Product Development Manager there from 2023 to 2025 and Process Technology Deployment Manager there from 2018 to 2023.
Lucille Scudieri
LinkedInExperience: R&D Director Value Leadership · Mars
Lucille Scudieri has been R&D Director Value Leadership at Mars since November 2025, based in Hackettstown, New Jersey. Lucille Scudieri was Principal Engineer at Mars from 2021 to 2025, Product Development Manager there from 2015 to 2021 and Product Development Scientist there from 1997 to 2015.
Nici Bush
LinkedInExperience: Chief Innovation, Science and Technology Officer · Mars
Nici Bush has been Chief Innovation, Science and Technology Officer at Mars since January 2022, based in the Washington DC-Baltimore Area, and describes directing a team of technical experts, scientists and innovators in that role. Nici Bush was General Manager, Mars Symbioscience from 2017 to 2020 and Global VP Research and Development, Chocolate at Mars from 2015 to 2017.
Romain Lepicard
LinkedInExperience: R&D Director Ice Cream · Mars
Romain Lepicard has been R&D Director Ice Cream at Mars since February 2021, based in the Greater Chicago Area, and describes leading the research and development team for Mars Ice Cream in North America and the global ice cream organization within Mars Wrigley. Romain Lepicard was Director Global Packaging Development at Mars from 2017 to 2020.
Choose the right perspective
Pick the person whose own R&D area, such as chocolate, frozen foods, ice cream or petcare, sits closest to the decision you face. Check the start dates of each role to see how recent the experience is.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you focus on first when you took on your current R&D role, and what did you learn from it?
- 02How do you decide which product or process development projects your team takes forward?
- 03How have you built and developed the R&D team that reports to you?
Reaching Mars R&D leaders
How can I contact one of these Mars R&D leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 2 companies: Mars and Mars Petcare US, based on profile data retrieved on October 24, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Mars R&D leaders?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. The offer is what the person receives, and Instant Expert's fee is added on top, so a $100 offer costs you $125. The fee is 20% of what you pay. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these Mars R&D leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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