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CJ Foods, the food business unit of South Korean conglomerate CJ CheilJedang, has announced the appointment of Adam Ricciardone as its new Global Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

The appointment signals a strategic move to inject high-level R&D discipline from the consumer health sector into the food giant's global operations. Ricciardone brings over 30 years of experience in FMCG innovation, having most recently served as Global Head of R&D for Skin Health & Beauty at Kenvue (formerly part of Johnson & Johnson).

Strategic Mandate: Aligning R&D with Global Growth

Ricciardone’s primary mandate is to lead CJ Foods' global growth agenda, with a specific focus on the bibigo Global Strategic Products (GSP) portfolio. As the brand continues to gain momentum in Western markets, the company is looking to align its technical innovation directly with commercial outcomes.

Key responsibilities for the new Global CTO include:

• Strategy Roadmap: Establishing a global R&D strategy grounded in evolving food industry trends.

• Technology Competitiveness: enhancing the company's differentiated technology stack to maintain a competitive edge in Korean, Asian, and American cuisines.

• Cross-Regional Synergy: Building a collaboration system to integrate R&D efforts across Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe, breaking down regional silos.

Translating Science into Business Impact

Dr. Gregory Yep, Global CEO of CJ Foods, highlighted Ricciardone’s ability to bridge the gap between the lab and the P&L as a critical factor in his selection.

"With the bibigo brand continuing to gain momentum with consumers worldwide, Adam's depth of experience and proven ability to translate R&D excellence into business impact will be instrumental as we further strengthen our global innovation capabilities," Dr. Yep stated.

A Career in Consumer Health Innovation

Ricciardone joins CJ Foods with a heavyweight resume in the consumer health sector. At Kenvue, he led enterprise innovation and was credited with improving business profitability by shortening product launch timelines and resetting technology roadmaps to prioritise business viability.

Prior to Kenvue, he spent nearly three decades at Johnson & Johnson, holding senior leadership roles including Head of R&D for Consumer Health Asia-Pacific. This background suggests CJ Foods is prioritising rigorous process management and scalable innovation frameworks as it expands its footprint.

Ricciardone holds a Master of Business and Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Chemistry from The University of New South Wales.