We're a Team of 50 CPG Leaders, Each With 20+ Years of Best-In-Class Entrepreneurial, Corporate & Consultancy Experience
Project Director
Dave is an innovator and R&D executive. With 20+ years at Kraft Foods launching $100M brands, and leadership at 915 Labs, he combines scientific expertise, culinary mastery, and top-tier innovation training to scale ventures across North America.
Explorer. Builder. Deployer.
Dave Behringer
Project Director
Adam is a leader in digital transformation, retail, and brand scaling. From P&G and L’Oreal to CEO Asia-Pacific of Molton Brown, and leading Asahi Europe’s marketing transformation, he has launched brands, built markets, and developed high-impact networks across the globe.
Explorer. Builder.
Adam Horler
Venture Lead USA
Leslie is a senior food innovation leader, driving disruptive brands and business growth for global and challenger companies. Former Global CMO of The Simple Root and senior leader at Kraft Heinz and Kellogg’s, she has led initiatives for clients including Sargento, Molson-Coors, Kraft Heinz, ConAgra, Domino’s, and Hormel.
Explorer. Builder.
Leslie Maclin
Sustainability SME
Mike brings over 30 years of packaging innovation, R&D/NPD, technology, and design experience for leading global CPG companies, alongside recent consultancy work focused on sustainability and innovation across sectors from food and drink to beauty and licensed goods. A recognised industry expert—Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining and Vice Chair of The Packaging Group—he excels in delivering fast, rigorous routes to market.
Explorer. Builder.
Mike Swain
Operational Excellence Officer
Pier is a global business leader with 25+ years driving strategy, brand transformation, and customer experience across major organizations. Formerly an executive at Virgin, CIBC, Molson, and SC Johnson Wax, and a consultant at BCG, he now leads Pilot Lite’s key client operations. He holds an MBA from Rotman Business School.
Explorer. Builder. Deployer.
Pier Massa
CEO & Co-Founder
Mike began his career at Cargill before building and managing five global businesses, raising $90M, and launching innovations for major brands worldwide such as PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, Unilever, Kimberly Clark, GSK, and Diageo. He has expanded Pilot Lite across Africa, Asia, China, and the US, and holds degrees from LGU and Oxford Business School.
Explorer. Builder. Deployer.
Mike Anstey
Financial Lead
Geraldene is a finance expert with 25+ years’ experience, including Big 5 training, leading European consolidation for a world-class corporation, and driving Pilot Lite’s financial systems and controls for 16 years.
Deployer.
Geraldene Dobson
SME UK Sales
Nat is a proven growth powerhouse in SME snacks and drinks. From launching Vita Coco UK (IPO 2021) to propelling Simply Roasted crisps into the UK’s top retailers in its first year, she excels at scaling brands fast in OOH and beyond.
Explorer. Builder. Deployer.
Nat Cooper
Senior Project Manager
Aba, with a BSc in Management from LSE, has led consumer projects and in-market rollouts across Europe, Africa, and North America for Food & Beverage and FMCG clients. She brings expertise in retail, supply chain, operations, and project management.
Explorer. Builder.
Aba Sagoe
Global Projects Officer
Jane is an experienced Operations Director known for getting things done efficiently and effectively. With 25+ years helping founders and leadership teams navigate growth, scale, and operational challenges, she is highly well-connected across the UK business community and excels at turning roadblocks into actionable solutions.
Explorer. Builder. Deployer.
Jane Gomez
Venture Lead Africa
Patrick has extensive experience validating and launching businesses across Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Uganda. He has worked with major CPG brands in Food & Beverage and Consumer Healthcare and brings deep expertise in semi-wholesaler and distributor networks in Africa’s informal markets.
Explorer. Builder. Deployer.
Patrick Muthoka
Senior Executive Partner
Nigel Hughes is a global R&D and innovation leader with executive experience at Kellogg, SC Johnson, Danone, and Unilever, driving product development and commercial growth worldwide. He holds a BSc from Durham and a PhD from Oxford in Chemistry.
Explorer. Builder.
Nigel Hughes
Senior Project Manager
With 15+ years in senior leadership across fashion retail and wholesale, Tovah drives brand transformation, commercial growth, and long-term client partnerships. From Diesel to freelance consultancy, she helps brands refine strategy, boost sales, and manage complex projects, turning ideas into tangible results.
Builder. Deployer.
Tovah Kinloch
Chief Growth Officer
Toby is a commercial leader with experience at Cadbury, Unilever, L’Oréal, BCG. He was co-founder of Truth, a global insight agency and The Change, specialising in CPG innovation . He combines international expertise and client-side insight to fast-track opportunities to market, drawing on his passion for fitness, nutrition, and well-being.
Explorer. Builder. Deployer.
Toby Matthewson
CFO & Financial Modeller
Chris is a venture and investment executive, with expertise in fundraising, deal structuring, and strategic growth. Over 10 years, he has raised hundreds of millions, led market analysis for global corporations, and now drives Pilot Lite’s capital markets and financial strategy.
Explorer. Builder.
Chris Thomas
Project Manager
Silvia is an experienced project manager with a track record of delivering complex initiatives across multiple markets and sectors. She has extensive experience working with fashion and retail brands such as Diesel and Miss Sixty, and excels at coordinating cross-functional teams, managing timelines, and driving results while maintaining high standards of quality and stakeholder satisfaction.
Explorer. Builder.
Silvia Tonetto
Project Director LATAM
Andrea is a seasoned commercial leader with 20+ years in multinational corporations, with expertise across sales, marketing, procurement, and HR. She drives results through analytical thinking, process optimization, team leadership, and digital transformation initiatives.
Explorer. Builder. Deployer.
Andrea Guani
Senior Executive Partner
Mary is an accomplished executive and board director with extensive experience driving revenue growth, consumer-facing innovation, and brand building across global CPG companies including Starbucks, Mars, Gallo, YUM, and General Mills. Known for transforming organizations, fostering R&D innovation, and managing food quality and safety risks, she excels at engaging teams, building departments, and advising CEOs and boards.
Explorer. Builder.
Mary Wagner
Project Director
Anthony is a CPG leader with 30 years of experience in commercial strategy, innovation, and brand growth. From M&S, Coca-Cola, and Cadbury to AVON and Gü Desserts, he has transformed businesses, launched e-commerce and new markets, and built high-performing teams worldwide.
Explorer. Builder. Deployer.
Anthony Wells
Venture Lead USA
Daniel is a technology-driven strategist with expertise in recruitment, leadership development, and organisational design. An experienced entrepreneur and former Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Australia’s SmartHub, he has founded multiple ventures and advised startups to Fortune 100s. At Pilot Lite, he drives go-to-market strategy for emerging consumer healthcare brands, leading digital, DTC, and executional growth.
Explorer. Builder. Deployer.
Daniel Johnsen
Venture Lead Africa
With deep experience launching and validating businesses in Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, Muyiwa has worked with major global CPG and consumer healthcare brands and is well connected across Africa’s informal traditional markets. At Pilot Lite, he helped drive the test-market launch of a new distribution network and products in Lagos.
Explorer. Builder. Delopyer.
Muyiwa Oke
Venture Support LATAM
Clarais an experienced project manager with deep knowledge of the LATAM market, skilled at navigating regional business dynamics and cultural nuances. They are known for being collaborative and solutions-focused, ensuring projects run smoothly and deliver impactful results.
Explorer. Builder. Deployer.
Clara Casaretto
Technology Lead
Sadiq is a security and risk advisor for Africa, helping businesses and governments navigate political, cyber, and geopolitical threats. Passionate about technology and social impact, he co-founded DoGood.Africa to empower ventures in underserved communities.
Deployer.
Sadiq Edu
Venture Lead EU
Louise is an experienced business leader and entrepreneur who founded a multi–award-winning contract catering company, twice ranked in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 and shortlisted for the Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year. She drove healthy eating and ethical procurement innovations across the UK before successfully selling the business in 2016.
Explorer. Builder. Deployer.
Louise Wymer
Grocery Retail Specialist
Fran is Grocery Lead for Pilot Accel, bringing 13+ years of FMCG experience across blue-chip companies, SMEs, and pre-revenue startups in the food & beverage sector. She has a strong track record in sales leadership, building senior-level partnerships, and leading key grocery and retail networks across the UK, including Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Amazon Fresh, and Lidl.
Explorer. Builder. Deployer.
Fran Duffy
Specialist Insight Research
Michael has spent 20 years in the innovation ecosystem, founding a recording studio and a digital publishing startup, leading marketing for Startup San Diego, and facilitating 65+ Techstars Startup Weekend events across North America and Australia. At Pilot Lite, he designs and executes go-to-market strategies for emerging consumer healthcare brands, focusing on direct-to-consumer engagement through digital-first, results-driven tactics.
Explorer. Builder. Deployer.
Michael Norton
Venture Manager USA
Lora is a senior R&D executive with 30+ years in the Food & Beverage industry, including 25 years at Kraft Foods leading major $100M brands. She revitalized the Philadelphia Cream Cheese portfolio, delivering a 9% revenue lift in its first year. Former VP of R&D and Engineering at 915 Labs, she now heads R&D and manufacturing for Pilot Lite US and serves as a packaging technology expert.
Builder. Deployer.
Lora Spizzirri
COO LATAM
Henry is a visionary senior executive with 35+ years in general management, commercial strategy, innovation, and business development across LATAM markets. With experience at PepsiCo and Quaker, he has driven global CPG growth, partnerships, and transformational initiatives for multinational corporations.
Builder. Deployer.
Henry Gomez
Executive Partner
Joel is a strategist and innovator with 30+ years in food, tech, and agriculture, driving disruptive innovation, global partnerships, and social impact initiatives supporting sustainable food systems and entrepreneurs.
Explorer. Builder.
Joel Nelson
Executive Partner
Renee is a Top Retail Expert, NED, Strategic Advisor, best-selling author, and keynote speaker with more than 25 years shaping the global consumer brand and retail landscape. She helps companies innovate, expand internationally, and strategically adopt emerging technologies. She is also the co-author of Next Generation Retail, a definitive book on how AI and new commerce models are transforming the industry.
Explorer. Builder.
Renee Hartmann
Senior Executive Partner
Robert is an international business leader with a strong record of driving growth and value in executive and non-executive roles. Drawing on 30 years at Mars and Coca-Cola, he brings deep FMCG expertise and strategic clarity. He now advises and mentors high-growth consumer-goods companies—both private and PE-backed—as a Non-Executive Chairman or Director.
Explorer. Builder.
