Barry Calpino has joined Conagra Brands, Inc. as vice president of innovation. He will report to Darren Serrao, chief growth officer of the Chicago, Illinois-headquartered diversified foods company whose frozen food brands include Marie Callender’s, Healthy Choice, Banquet, Alexia and Blake’s.
“Barry is an experienced and accomplished leader with a track record of innovation and new product success at several of the most respected consumer packaged goods companies,” said Serrao. “He’s made a name for himself delivering on big bets and breakthrough ideas, and as Conagra Brands continues to build its innovation pipeline and cultivate more of an entrepreneurial culture, his expertise and leadership will be a tremendous asset to the team.”
As vice president of innovation, Calpino will focus on driving rapid innovation and growth across Conagra’s portfolio of brands. He will be responsible for the direction and success of cross-functional teams made up of Consumer Insights, Marketing, Research & Development, Packaging and Design.
Conagra’s new hire was most recently vice president, global platform innovation at Mondelez, where he drove initiatives including creation, development and launch of the new Véa brand. Previously he was vice president of breakthrough innovation at Kraft Foods Group.
Calpino is also an adjunct professor of marketing teaching innovation at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Marquette University and holds an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
