Katie Hernandez is VP of Global R&D, Chocolate, Gum, Mints and Fruity Confections at Mars. She is an accomplished executive with over two decades of experience in R&D, packaging, and product innovation across the food and consumer goods industries. She has held leadership roles spanning Latin America, North America, and global markets. Her expertise includes quality and food safety, innovation, and packaging development, honed during her tenure at Wrigley and PepsiCo. A holder of a Master’s in Product Design and Development from Northwestern University and a Bachelor’s in Packaging from Michigan State University, she is also a certified yoga instructor.