Michael Okoroafor is McCormick’s Vice President, Global Sustainability and Packaging Innovation. In his role, he is responsible for the strategic direction, policies, development, and execution of agricultural, ingredient, product and packaging sustainability, as well as global packaging innovation.
Dr. Okoroafor joined McCormick in March of 2015 as Vice President, Global Packaging Innovation. Prior to his tenure at McCormick, he was Vice President for Packaging and R&D at H.J. Heinz Company, where he was responsible for setting overall global strategy and direction for the packaging organization and leading external innovation across North America. He has also held key leadership roles at other consumer goods and manufacturing companies, including The Coca-Cola Company and PPG Industries, Inc. Mike has led several major industry packaging innovations, including Dip N’ Squeeze, Heinz Thunderbird Icon bottle, PlantBottle™, Coca-Cola Freestyle® and McCormick First Choice™ Packaging.
Mike was inducted into the Packaging and Processing Hall of Fame at PACK EXPO International in 2018.
Dr. Okoroafor is an inventor with over 40 patents, has been published in over 35 technical publications, and is a contributing author to the “Handbook of Plastic Foams.” He serves on the Board of Directors for the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) and for AMERIPEN (American Institute for Packaging and the Environment). He also serves on the Engineering & Science Advisory Board for the University of Detroit Mercy and the Consumer Brand Association Packaging Sustainability Council. He is a member of the American Chemical Society, Institute of Food Technologists, Institute of Packaging Professionals and Society of Plastics Engineers. Dr. Okoroafor holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Nigeria, a Master’s degree in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Detroit, and a Ph.D. in Organic Polymer Chemistry from Michigan State University. He is also a graduate of the Executive Development Program at Kellogg Business School at Northwestern University.
English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
French
German
Greek
Italian
Japanese
Portuguese
Spanish