Denny Belcastro

Denny Belcastro joined the leadership team at Kimberly Clark in March 2015 as vice president, industry initiatives and customer development, where he is responsible for leading the company’s efforts with business and industry initiatives in developing strategic retailer collaborative partnerships. Internally, his focus is on developing and mentoring the next generation of leadership.

Previously, Belcastro served as senior vice president, government affairs and industry collaboration with Hillshire Brands, executive vice president, industry affairs and collaboration at the Grocery Manufacturers Association and vice president, customer development and industry affairs, for Nabisco and then Kraft Foods North America. In addition, he spent more than 15 years as the executive director and tournament chairman of the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the first major on the LPGA tour and one of golf’s crown jewels, where he was responsible for total development and implementation of sales, marketing, media and operations.

Belcastro began his career in the food industry in 1976 when he joined Standard Brands in Pittsburgh as field sales representative. During the past 40 years, he has held several business and customer development organizational leadership positions with Nabisco Brands in both retail and food service operation segments, including senior vice president, national customer teams; vice president, business development; and chief sales officer. He also served Kraft Foods as vice president, sales and customer logistics, for its direct store delivery segment based in Chicago.

Belcastro holds a bachelor’s degree in business communication from Edinboro University. He earned his executive M.S.C. degree in business and organizational communication at Northwestern University.

Belcastro serves on numerous industry advisory boards, including FMI – The Food Industry Association Industry Collaboration Council, California Grocers Association Executive Committee Board of Directors, and National Association of Chain Drug Stores Retail Advisory Board.  He also serves on the Midtown Educational Foundation Board of Directors based in Chicago.

Session

Student and Industry Panel
Tuesday, March 26
3:15 to 4 p.m.
Moderator: Dr. Jennifer Bott, Professor of Management, Western Michigan University

• Denny Belcastro, Vice President of Industry and Customer Collaboration, Kimberly-Clark
• Joe Mueller, Vice President of Industry and Customer Development, Kellogg Company
• Allison Quick, WMU Student and Executive Vice President of the WMU Food Marketing Association
• Lily Zwanka, WMU Student and President of the WMU Food Marketing Association