Kemin Executive and Leadership Team

August, 2026

Leadership Overview

Kemin has 10 executives leading key functions including strategy, marketing, financial oversight, human capital, and regional nutritional science operations.

Driven by a commitment to nutritional science, Kemin delivers innovative chemical formulations that enhance the quality, safety, and efficacy of food, feed, and health products for global markets.

Leadership Roles at Kemin

  • Chief Executive Officer - Kristina Hennessy
  • Chief Financial Officer - Patrick Wood
  • Group Chief Financial Officer - John Waterson
  • President - Sureshkumar Rajaram
  • President, Pet Food & Rendering Technologies - Kimberly Nelson
  • President, Food Technologies (Asia) - Liew Lim
  • President, Food Technologies LATAM - Bruno Palermo
  • Chief Marketing Officer - Karen Li
  • Chief People Officer - Kannan Raghavan
  • Presidente. Animal Nutrition and Health South America - Jose Piccolotto
  • Kristina Hennessy - Chief Executive Officer

    Kristina Hennessy, the Chief Executive Officer at Kemin, directs the overarching strategic vision for the global chemical manufacturing enterprise. Overseeing the integration of nutritional science across all business units, the Chief Executive Officer ensures that manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia maintain consistent quality standards. This leadership role involves aligning long-term corporate objectives with the development of innovative chemical formulations that improve product efficacy. By fostering a culture of scientific excellence, Kristina Hennessy drives the expansion of the company into new consumer and industrial markets. The Chief Executive Officer maintains close collaboration with the Board to secure sustainable growth and operational efficiency. Through rigorous oversight of global manufacturing processes, the Chief Executive Officer guarantees that Kemin remains a leader in the nutritional ingredients sector while meeting the complex demands of international food and health industries.

    Patrick Wood - Chief Financial Officer

    Patrick Wood, the Chief Financial Officer at Kemin, manages the fiscal health and capital allocation strategies for the global chemical manufacturing operations. Overseeing the financial reporting and budgetary planning for manufacturing facilities across multiple continents, the Chief Financial Officer ensures that resource distribution supports the development of nutritional ingredients. This leadership role involves maintaining rigorous financial controls to support the long-term investment in chemical research and development. By optimizing the cost structure of the supply chain, Patrick Wood drives profitability and operational efficiency across the organization. The Chief Financial Officer collaborates with the executive team to evaluate the financial viability of new market entries and product launches. Through precise financial modeling and risk management, the Chief Financial Officer secures the capital necessary for Kemin to maintain a competitive edge in the global nutritional science industry while delivering consistent value to the business.
    Patrick Wood

    John Waterson - Group Chief Financial Officer

    John Waterson, the Group Chief Financial Officer at Kemin, directs the consolidated financial strategy and corporate governance for the entire global manufacturing group. Overseeing the financial integration of diverse business units, the Group Chief Financial Officer ensures that fiscal policies align with the overarching mission of improving product quality and safety. This role involves managing complex international tax structures and currency risks associated with operations in North America, Europe, and Asia. By implementing robust financial reporting systems, John Waterson drives transparency and accountability across all regional divisions. The Group Chief Financial Officer works closely with the Board to monitor the financial performance of the nutritional science portfolio. Through strategic oversight of the group balance sheet, the Group Chief Financial Officer supports the sustainable growth of Kemin, ensuring that the company maintains the financial strength required to innovate within the competitive chemical manufacturing landscape.

    Sureshkumar Rajaram - President

    Sureshkumar Rajaram, the President at Kemin, directs the operational execution of core manufacturing initiatives and cross-functional business processes. Overseeing the integration of advanced chemical manufacturing techniques, the President ensures that production facilities maintain the highest standards of quality and safety. This role involves coordinating between research departments and commercial teams to accelerate the delivery of nutritional ingredients to the global market. By streamlining internal workflows, Sureshkumar Rajaram drives operational efficiency and reduces time-to-market for new chemical formulations. The President works with regional leaders to ensure that manufacturing output meets the diverse needs of the food and health industries. Through the application of rigorous process engineering, the President supports the overall scalability of the company. Ultimately, the President ensures that Kemin maintains its reputation for excellence in nutritional science by overseeing the seamless transition from laboratory innovation to large-scale industrial production.

    Kimberly Nelson - President, Pet Food & Rendering Technologies

    Kimberly Nelson, the President, Pet Food & Rendering Technologies at Kemin, directs the specialized division focused on nutritional solutions for the pet food industry. Overseeing the development of chemical formulations that enhance the shelf-life, safety, and nutritional value of pet products, the President, Pet Food & Rendering Technologies ensures that the company remains the preferred partner for global pet food manufacturers. This role involves managing the technical support and sales strategy for rendering technologies that improve the quality of animal-derived ingredients. By leveraging deep expertise in nutritional science, Kimberly Nelson drives the innovation of products that meet the evolving demands of pet owners. The President, Pet Food & Rendering Technologies collaborates with global R&D teams to pioneer new chemical solutions that address industry-wide challenges. Through strategic market expansion, the President, Pet Food & Rendering Technologies secures the leadership position of Kemin in the pet food and rendering technology sector.

    Liew Lim - President, Food Technologies (Asia)

    Liew Lim, the President, Food Technologies (Asia) at Kemin, directs the regional strategy for food safety and quality solutions across the Asian market. Overseeing the implementation of chemical formulations that extend the freshness and safety of food products, the President, Food Technologies (Asia) ensures that the company meets the complex regulatory requirements of diverse Asian economies. This role involves managing local manufacturing partnerships and technical service teams to provide customized solutions for food processors. By analyzing regional consumption patterns, Liew Lim drives the adoption of innovative nutritional ingredients that enhance product performance. The President, Food Technologies (Asia) collaborates with the global food technology division to share best practices and scientific advancements. Through the expansion of the regional footprint, the President, Food Technologies (Asia) strengthens the presence of Kemin in the Asian food industry, ensuring that the company provides essential solutions for food safety and quality.
    Liew Lim

    Bruno Palermo - President, Food Technologies LATAM

    Bruno Palermo, the President, Food Technologies LATAM at Kemin, directs the regional operations for food safety and quality solutions within the Latin American market. Overseeing the deployment of chemical formulations that improve the shelf-life and nutritional profile of food products, the President, Food Technologies LATAM ensures that local food manufacturers achieve superior product quality. This role involves managing the technical sales and distribution networks that serve the diverse food processing industry in the region. By focusing on the specific needs of the Latin American market, Bruno Palermo drives the growth of the food technology portfolio. The President, Food Technologies LATAM collaborates with global R&D to adapt chemical solutions to local ingredients and processing methods. Through the strategic management of regional resources, the President, Food Technologies LATAM secures the market share of Kemin, ensuring that the company remains a vital partner for food safety and quality in Latin America.

    Karen Li - Chief Marketing Officer

    Karen Li, the Chief Marketing Officer at Kemin, architects the global brand strategy for nutritional ingredients and health-related products. Managing the communication of complex chemical formulations to diverse business and consumer audiences, the Chief Marketing Officer ensures that market positioning reflects the high efficacy of the company portfolio. This role involves analyzing international market trends to identify growth opportunities across North America, Europe, and Asia. By coordinating with regional sales teams, Karen Li drives the adoption of innovative solutions that enhance the performance of industrial products. The Chief Marketing Officer oversees the development of digital and traditional marketing campaigns that highlight the safety and quality standards inherent in the manufacturing process. Through strategic brand management, the Chief Marketing Officer strengthens the market presence of Kemin, ensuring that the value proposition of nutritional science reaches key stakeholders and industrial partners worldwide.
    Karen Li

    Kannan Raghavan - Chief People Officer

    Kannan Raghavan, the Chief People Officer at Kemin, architects the global human capital strategy to support the company mission of nutritional innovation. Overseeing talent acquisition, leadership development, and organizational culture, the Chief People Officer ensures that the workforce possesses the scientific expertise required to manufacture high-quality chemical ingredients. This role involves implementing standardized HR practices across manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. By fostering an inclusive and high-performance environment, Kannan Raghavan drives employee engagement and retention. The Chief People Officer collaborates with other C-suite leaders to align workforce capabilities with the strategic goals of the nutritional science business. Through the design of comprehensive training programs, the Chief People Officer ensures that the staff remains at the forefront of chemical formulation advancements. Ultimately, the Chief People Officer strengthens the organizational foundation of Kemin, enabling the company to attract top-tier talent in the competitive global manufacturing sector.
    Kannan Raghavan

    Jose Piccolotto - Presidente. Animal Nutrition and Health South America

    Jose Piccolotto, the Presidente. Animal Nutrition and Health South America at Kemin, directs the regional operations and market expansion for animal health products. Overseeing the distribution of nutritional ingredients across the South American market, the Presidente. Animal Nutrition and Health South America ensures that local agricultural and industrial partners receive high-efficacy chemical solutions. This role involves adapting global nutritional science standards to meet the specific regulatory and market needs of the region. By managing local manufacturing and supply chain logistics, Jose Piccolotto drives the growth of the animal nutrition portfolio. The Presidente. Animal Nutrition and Health South America collaborates with the global executive team to ensure that regional strategies align with the broader corporate mission of improving animal health and safety. Through the implementation of localized sales and technical support, the Presidente. Animal Nutrition and Health South America secures a dominant market position for Kemin in the South American agricultural sector.
    Jose Piccolotto

    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Kemin Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Kemin?
    Kemin is led by Kristina Hennessy (Chief Executive Officer), along with executives such as Patrick Wood (Chief Financial Officer) and John Waterson (Group Chief Financial Officer).
    Who is part of Kemin’s executive team?
    The executive team of Kemin includes leaders such as Kristina Hennessy (Chief Executive Officer), Patrick Wood (Chief Financial Officer), John Waterson (Group Chief Financial Officer) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Kemin have?
    Kemin has 10 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Kemin’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Kemin includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Group Chief Financial Officer, President, President, Pet Food & Rendering Technologies.