Melissa Werneck

As the former EVP & Global Chief People Officer at Kraft Heinz, I’ve focused on fueling the limitless potential of more than 36,000 employees around the world. I am incredibly proud of the transformation driven from the inside out at Kraft Heinz, reengineering the approach to people and culture and activating initiatives that gave all employees the tools and resources they need to excel every single day. I’ve held the number one human resources position at Heinz, and later Kraft Heinz, for more than 12 years - also leading the Information Technology and Shared Services departments during 5 of those 12 years, a unique and rarely seen combination of functions. I was recognized by Human Resource Executive as one of the Top 100 HR Tech Influencers in 2024 and by HRO Today in 2023 as CHRO of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award. I am a true believer in lifelong learning, and my current role as Independent Director and Senior Advisor brings together the many different positions I’ve held throughout my wide-ranging career, including my beginnings as a chemical engineer at a manufacturing facility. Along my journey, I’ve developed expertise in functions ranging from human resources to marketing, supply chain to business unit head, Environmental Social Governance to information technology. I’ve also experienced the full range of M&A, leading different areas through acquisitions, mergers, divestitures and now advising on Kraft Heinz spin-off. I’ve been the chair of the People & Compensation and the Nominating and Governance Committees of XP Inc., a public financial services company, since 2024. I’ve also been a member of the Advisory Board of University of California, Berkeley Transformative CHRO Leadership Program co-led by Laszlo Bock since its inception. From 2021 to 2024 I was the chair of the board of Together We Grow, a consortium of some of the world’s largest agribusiness and food interests focused on building the workforce of tomorrow. Coaching, mentoring, and career development aren’t just what I am passionate about, but who I fundamentally am.