Keynote

Mark W. Addicks
Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, General Mills

As Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Mark has overall responsibility for the company's world-class marketing function and its marketing services organization, G-Com.

In his role, Mark has oversight responsibilities for the company's global brand-building strategy, including its advertising, promotions, PR, design, packaging, online, licensing, and multicultural initiatives. He also oversees some of the industry's most recognized equity platforms, including Box Tops for Education and the Pillsbury Bake-Off. Mark also has pioneered several cutting edge propriety marketing ventures.

Since joining General Mills in 1988, Mark has held marketing positions with increasing responsibility in both the Yoplait and the Big G cereal divisions. As Vice President of Big G New Enterprises, he led highly successful new product development efforts, including Frosted Cheerios, one of the most heralded product launches in category history. He also produced ground-breaking results as leader of the venerable Cheerios franchise.

Mark was named Vice President of Marketing Communications in January 2000, and led the successful integration of the General Mills and Pillsbury marketing functions in 2001. He was named Chief Marketing Officer in January 2004, and was promoted to Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer in June 2007.

Before joining General Mills, he led marketing communication programs for Anderson, Clayton & Company, a diversified foods company based in Houston. During the same period, he started and managed three entrepreneurial businesses in Houston.

Mark's work has been widely recognized with numerous industry awards, both for his innovation and marketing expertise. Advertising Age named him one of the top 100 marketers in 1999, and one of the top 25 Power Brokers in both 2003 and 2004. In addition, he has been invited to guest lecture at some of the nation's leading business programs, including Harvard, Tuck and the University of Chicago.

He earned a bachelor's degree in government from the University of Texas in 1978 and an MBA from Harvard University in 1988.

Mark resides in Minneapolis.

Jaya Kumar
Chief Marketing Office
Frito- Lay North America

Jaya is the Chief Marketing Officer for Frito-Lay North America. He is responsible for traditional marketing practices across all Frito-Lay brands, overseeing advertising, media, insights and innovation.

Jaya holds a MBA from the Indian Institute of Management and a BS in Microbiology. He has a special interest in teaching marketing. He currently teaches MBA students in various colleges.

He lives in Dallas with his wife and son. Currently his wife, Swapna, works as a free lance journalist.