Don Leonard

The most innovative ingredients in the world have little value if consumers won't purchase them a second time. For more than 20 years, I have specialized in solving one of product development's most difficult challenges—transforming technically complex ingredients into products consumers genuinely enjoy. My career has centered on developing functional foods, beverages, sports nutrition products, dietary supplements, and wellness products that successfully balance efficacy, taste, texture, stability, manufacturability, regulatory requirements, and commercial viability.

Whether working with proteins, electrolytes, botanical extracts, vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, caffeine systems, collagen, functional mushrooms, probiotics, or specialty sweeteners, I bridge formulation science, flavor architecture, manufacturing, and commercialization to create products that succeed in both the marketplace and the manufacturing plant.

Founder - dYsruptrz Innovation Studio

(2023-01)

Founded an innovation studio helping emerging and established consumer brands create differentiated food, beverage, and dietary supplement products from concept through commercialization.

• Develop functional beverage platforms including hydration systems, RTD coffee concepts, protein beverages, gut-health products, emotional wellness and performance nutrition systems.
• Invented AeroChew™, a patent-pending aerated functional confectionery platform designed to redefine consumer expectations for nutritional delivery systems.
• Advise founders on commercialization strategy, ingredient sourcing, supplier qualification, manufacturing partner selection, cost optimization, and innovation portfolio development.
• Create commercially scalable formulations balancing ingredient functionality, sensory performance, consumer acceptance, regulatory compliance, and manufacturing capability.
• Lead development of functional mushroom products, hydration systems, high-protein concepts, honey-based endurance gels, overnight nutrition products, and next-generation wellness innovations.

Senior Product Development & Commercialization Leader - PowerBar | Nestlé Nutrition

(2003-01 - 2011-12)

Developed and commercialized products for one of the world's most recognized sports nutrition brands, supporting innovation across beverages, bars, supplements, and endurance nutrition.

• Led commercialization of protein beverages, powdered drink mixes, RTDs, stick packs, sports nutrition products, nutrition bars, and dietary supplements.
• Worked directly with ingredient suppliers, flavor houses, manufacturing teams, engineering, procurement, and operations to bring innovative products to commercial production.
• Improved taste, mouthfeel, ingredient functionality, and manufacturability across multiple performance nutrition platforms.
• Participated in development of endurance fueling technologies designed for elite athletes while balancing nutritional performance with consumer acceptance.
• Supported commercialization programs spanning bench development, pilot production, manufacturing startup, equipment qualification, and national product launches.

Manager, Research & Development (Head of Product) - Vitamin World USA

(2024-01 - 2025-12)

• Directed innovation across one of the dietary supplement industry's broadest portfolios while identifying emerging wellness trends and science-backed ingredient technologies.
• Led development across capsules, tablets, gummies, powders, RTDs, liquids, and softgels.
• Evaluated novel ingredients including botanicals, adaptogens, green tea, matcha, nootropics, cognitive health ingredients, sports nutrition ingredients, and healthy aging technologies.
• Built supplier partnerships introducing innovative ingredients aligned with evolving consumer wellness trends.
• Worked closely with contract manufacturers to commercialize scalable formulations while balancing quality, cost, manufacturability, and speed to market.

Research & Development Manager - FoodPharma

(2021-01 - 2023-12)

• Led innovation and commercialization of confectionery-based dietary supplements for more than 50 consumer brands, specializing in transforming highly challenging active ingredients into products consumers genuinely enjoyed.
• Developed soft chews, nutrition bars, and functional confectionery systems utilizing vitamins, minerals, botanicals, proteins, adaptogens, specialty actives, and nutraceutical ingredients.
• Solved complex sensory challenges through flavor architecture, sweetness balancing, acid optimization, texture engineering, moisture management, and off-note mitigation.
• Worked extensively with ingredients exhibiting bitterness, metallic character, sulfur notes, and astringency while maintaining efficacy and commercial manufacturability.
• Partnered with flavor houses and ingredient suppliers to improve consumer acceptance without compromising product performance.
• Commercialized more than 50 customer programs from concept through production.

Director, R&D Innovation - Chosen Foods

(2023-01 - 2024-12)

• Led innovation beyond the company's core avocado oil portfolio into adjacent Better-For-You food categories including salty snacks made with avocado oil and a chocolate-hazelnut spread made with avocado oil.
• Directed commercialization of condiments, dressings, spreads, sauces, snacks, and consumer packaged foods.
• Developed scalable formulations emphasizing clean labels, ingredient functionality, superior sensory performance, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Worked closely with executive leadership identifying innovation opportunities supporting long-term growth.

Product Development & Commercialization - CAPTEK Softgel International

(2025-01 - 2026-12)

• Led development across tablets, capsules, softgels, gummies, and soft chews while supporting commercialization, manufacturing optimization, and technical problem solving.
• Applied Design of Experiments (DOE) to optimize formulation robustness and manufacturing consistency.
• Worked extensively with vitamins, minerals, botanicals, specialty actives, sweetener systems, and functional ingredients.
• Partnered with Operations, Quality, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Regulatory to improve commercialization readiness.
• Supported technology transfer, process optimization, manufacturing troubleshooting, and product launches.

Beachbody

Sports nutrition powders, meal replacements, stick packs, performance beverages

ThinkThin

Protein bars and functional nutrition

Soft Gel Technologies

Dietary supplement delivery systems

ConAgra Foods

Shelf-stable foods, sauces, commercialization

Taco Bell

Better-for-you menu innovation

Kraft General Foods

Dairy systems and frozen desserts

Master of Science - Project Management - University of Massachusetts Amherst-Isenberg School of Management

Bachelor of Science - Chemical Engineering - Northeastern University

Executive Education - Brand Management - Cornell University | SC Johnson College of Business

Professional Culinary Arts - Culinary Arts - Chef Tech Culinary Academy

Professional Studies - Fashion Design, Styling & Merchandising - FCI, Los Angeles