Maria Bracone

Maria Bracone is an experienced Packaging professional with 25+ years of experience within Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), focused in the Food and Beverage industry. She began her career as a Packaging Engineer at Cadbury Schweppes Beverages, where she was responsible for Carbonated Soft Drink Packaging for North America.

Maria is a dynamic R&D Executive skilled at team leadership, influencing and communicating within Global Organizations and business teams. She has demonstrated success leading flawless development and implementation of new, innovative packaging driven by consumer insights and productivity, delivering equal or improved quality. Maria is a passionate leader with a proven track record and strong competencies in recruiting, talent retention, technical training and building high performing teams that consistently deliver top and bottom line growth via science and technology.

During her 21yr. career at Kraft Foods, Maria was exposed to numerous packaging material disciplines and formats, across Retail and Growth Channels (Club Store, Mass Merchandise and Drug outlets), spending time working in Packaging R&D, Quality, Engineering and Product R&D. She progressed through increasing levels of responsibility, within multiple categories and geographic locations, supporting several US and internationally based businesses. Maria spent time working and living as an expat in Brazil and as the Director of the Kraft Latin America Packaging Organization, based in Miami, FL. During her time in the LA Region, Maria significantly increased the technical depth of the Packaging Organization and drove improvements in project execution and commercialization. Additionally, Maria provided leadership and oversight for the Michigan State University Packaging recruiting team, across Kraft Foods. With the creation of Mondelez International and spin-off of Kraft Foods in 2012, Maria was appointed Director of Packaging & Snacking R&D, Oscar Mayer, based in Madison, WI.

Maria is an active member of the School of Packaging Advisory Board at Michigan State University.  Working closely with Packaging industry leaders, Maria helps to provide oversight and strategic vision for the MSU School of Packaging in an effort to help them achieve their goals, improve its teaching, research and outreach programs consistent with the needs of the Packaging industry. 

Maria holds a B.S. degree in Packaging from Michigan State University.

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