Jennifer L. Melgarejo
Senior Leadership Team Vice President, Human Resources @Nestlé
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WORK HISTORY
Senior Leadership Team Vice President, Human Resources @Nestlé
Arlington, VA, US
After shaping the vision, strategy, and culture for the newly created, business-building Coffee & Beverages division, I advanced to VP to continue leading this large-scale transformation. I oversee the ongoing integration of two distinct organizations—aligning talent, culture, and operations—while driving HR strategy for the $5.2B Coffee & Beverages group.GAME-CHANGING RESTRUCTURINGIn partnership with the CHRO and cross-functional leaders, I’m building a powerhouse organization—the primary growth engine of Nestlé USA, responsible for 40% of new net sales and 50% of operating profit. Rather than simply merging two operations, we’ve taken a deliberate, strategic approach to maximizing strengths, optimizing operations, and fostering a culture that yields results.This transformation is already redefining how we work. By setting priorities and establishing clear ways of working, we’re ensuring the organization delivers at its highest potential. PERFORMING & TRANSFORMING, AT THE SAME TIMEAny HR executive can tell you that leading through transformation means balancing immediate business performance with long-term change. Every day, we’re keeping the train running while redefining how we operate—ensuring that leaders, teams, and structures aren’t just keeping up, but moving forward with purpose. This requires clarity, adaptability, and an unwavering focus on people.HR plays a critical role in making transformation work, not just on paper but also in practice. From talent strategy to leadership development to change management, we’re ensuring that employees stay engaged, leaders are prepared, and teams are united—no matter how fast the business evolves.
EDUCATION
Marshall University
Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Management and Communications
West Virginia University
Masters of Science (M.S.), Industrial Labor Relations and Human Resources
ABOUT JENNIFER L. MELGAREJO
Successful change isn’t just about structure and processes—it’s about people coming together around a shared vision. Over the course of my career as an HR executive, I’ve had the opportunity to lead through change, ensuring that talent strategies, leadership, and culture aren’t just aligned with business objectives but are actively driving them. At Nestlé USA, that impact has been far-reaching. I’ve collaborated with people at every level to foster a more profitable, people-centric company. We have delivered outstanding results: optimizing performance, accelerating M & As, reducing costs, opening and closing manufacturing plants, minimizing turnover, establishing talent pipelines, and increasing diversity among both leaders and employees.Here, transformation isn’t a one-time event, it’s a continuous evolution. As head of HR for the newly merged $5.2B Coffee & Beverages business, I’ve helped shape the organization of the future: integrating two legacy groups into the largest division striving to be the #1 growth driver in the company. At the same time, I’ve worked to create a division that thrives long after the transition is complete—unlocking potential in people, teams, and the organization as a whole.Core leadership priorities:– Steering organizational transformations—from large-scale restructurings to leadership realignments.– Developing agile, high-performing teams through talent strategies, succession planning, and leadership development.– Bridging cultures and workforces to build unified, future-ready organizations that thrive through change.– Igniting bottom-line growth by ensuring HR isn’t a support function—it’s a business accelerator.– Inspiring tangible improvements across all employee benchmarks—again and again.Career overview:• 20+ years in HR strategy and leadership with Nestlé USA, a Fortune 100 company.• Proven HR experience across disciplines: sales, marketing, manufacturing, supply chain, and corporate.• Overseas appointment at global headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland.• Relevant credentials including MS in Human Resources (Industrial Relations), BBA in Management (Communications), and Certified DDI Facilitator.Transformation is never easy—but when done right and reinforced with strong HR and business leadership, it can create agile, resilient organizations where both people and companies thrive.
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