Mars

Director of Analytic & AI Capabilities

Head of Data Science - North America

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Select highlights include: 
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: Amplified customer spending 3-5x via hyper-personalized digital experiences and an 80M-record consumer data platform.
EMBEDDED CUSTOMER CENTRICITY: Devised KPI dashboard for 30+ brands, aligning consumer experience metrics with strategic growth goals.
BUILDING A DATA-DRIVEN MARKETING CULTURE: Conducted data analytics and marketing strategy training for 2,000 marketing leaders.

Executive Director, Global CRM Engagement, Activation & Analytics

The Vitamin Shoppe

Select highlights include:
DATA-DRIVEN INNOVATION: Launched a $100M annual subscription business using customer data analysis and segmentation.
STRATEGIC NEGOTIATION: Fostered strategic partnerships, securing $30M in bottom-line improvements through data-driven negotiations.
DRIVING CUSTOMER RETENTION: Revamped loyalty program, enhancing customer retention and boosting top-line growth.

Senior Director Analytics & Insights

Director, Business Analytics & Insight

The Children's Place

Select highlights include:
CHANGE AGENT: Generated $25M net profit by innovating store fleet optimization tool.
CUSTOMER CENTRIC PERSONALIZATION: Increased sales by $4M and saved $1M through personalized email communication strategies.
LEVERAGING CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT: Utilized branded research panel to leverage customer engagement, increasing top-selling product turnover by 23%.

Director - Omni Channel Analytics & Insights

Party City

Manager - Marketing Analytics & Consumer Insight

Marketing Analyst

Montclair State University, School of Business, Dean's Office

School of Business Administrative Affairs/Programs Coordinator & Dean's Office Graduate  Assistant

At Mars Petcare, I lead Analytics & AI Capabilities and serve as interim head of our Global Analytics Services team, guiding a global team to deliver scalable solutions that simplify complexity, accelerate decisions, and drive measurable business impact.

Over the past five years, we’ve evolved from a specialized function into a trusted cross-divisional partner — building reusable frameworks, strengthening core analytics capabilities, and enabling faster, more consistent decision-making across our business.

I’m especially proud of our team: value-focused, pragmatic, curious, and deeply committed to our shared purpose: A better world for pets. We stay close to key business challenges and own the outcomes we deliver.

Before Mars, I led analytics transformations at Estée Lauder and The Vitamin Shoppe. Early in my career, I learned that great analytics isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking the right questions and knowing when to challenge them. That principle continues to guide how I show up: with clarity, integrity, and purpose.

Always happy to connect — whether about analytics, leadership, or exchanging ideas.

Martin Leitner

With 24+ years of R&D experience and deep expertise in complete nutrition and supplements, including 16+ years working on the Mars product portfolio, like Nutro, Greenies, and Pill Pockets.  I specialize in developing nutrient-rich, minimally processed pet food and treats that delight pets and are processed efficiently with minimal site waste.
-Lead a team of R&D associates on large-scale innovation initiatives, including the development of next-generation pet food focused on health, sustainability, and manufacturability.
-Drive product development from ideation through commercialization, creating environmentally conscious, performance-driven formulations for Dry and Care & Treats formats.
-Thrive in undefined white-space areas, independently identifying opportunities and executing solutions through close collaboration with R&D, supply, and quality partners.
-Champion sustainability by designing formulas with lower environmental impact, validated through CO₂+ lifecycle assessments, replacing legacy products with greener alternatives.
-Co-developed a robust onboarding website for Product Development Scientists, streamlining access to tools, resources, and best practices to accelerate new associate success.
-Lead and support complex Design of Experiments (DOE) and statistical testing to ensure rigorous, data-driven decisions.
-Collaborate closely with manufacturing to ensure smooth scale-up, optimized production, and minimal waste.
-Uphold scientific integrity through validated methodologies and tools such as Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR) and Minitab, ensuring accurate and bias-free results.
-Advance continuous improvement initiatives using Lean and Six Sigma principles to identify and eliminate waste streams.

Associate Principal Scientist

-Developed innovative pet food formulations aligned with brand objectives, focusing on nutrient density, palatability, and manufacturability.
-Partnered with cross-functional teams to deliver high-performing products through iterative testing, validation, and scale-up.
-Championed continuous improvement, driving process enhancements, and reducing production variability using Six Sigma tools.

Senior Product Development Scientist

-Developed high-quality pet food products from concept to commercialization, ensuring compliance with nutritional standards and operational feasibility.
-Conducted lab and pilot trials, analyzed data trends, and optimized formulations for large-scale production efficiency.
-Collaborated with manufacturing teams to troubleshoot production issues and refine product specifications.

Product Development Scientist

-Led initiatives to improve manufacturing processes, reducing downtime and enhancing throughput through Lean and Six Sigma methodologies.
-Conducted Measurement System Analysis and Root Cause Analysis, delivering actionable solutions to eliminate process inefficiencies.
-Supported capital projects, including equipment upgrades and line commissioning, ensuring operational excellence.

Process Improvement Technologist

APUS Analog Research Group (AARG)

-Conduct mission risk assessments
-Ensure the safety of the crew members

Safety Officer

Led a 14-day Mars analog mission in a sealed habitat as part of the Apus Analog Research Group (AARG). Oversaw multidisciplinary research including spirulina cultivation, duckweed water quality analysis, human factor plant production, AI-driven mental health tools, astronomy imaging, and expressive art under isolation. Coordinated daily operations, EVAs, data collection, and crew well-being in a high-fidelity analog environment. Conducted cryogenic preservation of biological samples, maintained habitat systems, and ensured mission success through collaboration with Mission Control and our partners at the University of North Dakota. Served as Crew Commander to a team of four, demonstrating leadership, adaptability, and systems-level thinking in a simulated extraterrestrial setting.

Analog Astronaut | Crew Commander – ARG-8i Mission

Participated in a high-fidelity 10-day Mars analog mission at the hermetically sealed SAM habitat under the Apus Analog Research Group (AARG). Conducted sustainability-focused research projects including hydroponic plant care, electrolysis for oxygen extraction, spirulina cultivation under varied conditions, and plant-based nutrition studies. Operated in a resource-constrained environment where systems like water, CO₂, and waste were closed-loop and crew-managed, highlighting environmental interdependence. Supported daily habitat maintenance, atmospheric monitoring, and mission documentation while simulating real-world Martian constraints. Collaborated with a multidisciplinary crew to advance analog research, contributing to future human missions to Mars.

Analog Astronaut | Mission Specialist – ARG-1S Mission

TechniPac, Inc

-Developed innovative, sustainable packaging materials to enhance product shelf life while minimizing environmental impact.
-Oversaw QA processes, ensuring compliance with HACCP, GMP, ISO9001 standards, and conducted supplier audits to maintain quality integrity.
-Led statistical process control initiatives to reduce waste and improve production consistency.

Quality Assurance Mgr / Packaging Innovation R&D

Nissan Motor Corporation

-Performed in-depth diagnostics and preventative maintenance (PM) on automotive systems, ensuring optimal vehicle reliability and safety.
-Specialized in troubleshooting and resolving mechanical and electrical issues, improving service efficiency and customer satisfaction.
-Rebuilt complex systems including engines and transmissions, demonstrating precision and technical proficiency in high-stakes environments.
-Collaborated with engineering teams to identify recurring failure modes and implement corrective actions that enhanced vehicle performance.
-Contributed to quality improvement initiatives by analyzing reliability data and providing actionable insights for product enhancement.

Reliability Technician

ConAgra Foods

-Led process capability studies to identify bottlenecks and implemented solutions that improved production consistency and reduced variability.
-Conducted comprehensive Root Cause Analyses, utilizing PFMEA and risk mitigation strategies to prevent recurrence of process issues.
-Designed and executed statistically valid experiments (DOE) to optimize manufacturing parameters, improving yield and reducing waste.
-Spearheaded Lean initiatives, introducing efficiency measures that significantly decreased production downtime and material usage.
-Played a key role in capital equipment installations, ensuring smooth integration into existing production lines and compliance with quality standards.
-Utilized tools such as AutoCAD for design layouts and Minitab/JMP for advanced statistical analysis to support data-driven improvements.

Process Improvement and Lean 6 Sigma

-Ensured compliance with rigorous food safety standards, including HACCP, HARPC, GMP, and ISO9001 through meticulous monitoring and auditing.
-Identified and addressed process deviations, placing holds on non-compliant products and leading corrective action plans.
-Calibrated measurement instruments and maintained documentation integrity, supporting accurate and reliable quality control processes.
-Partnered with production teams to enforce statistical process control (SPC), driving consistent product quality and reducing defect rates.

Quality Assurance Technician

With 24 years of extensive Research and Development experience, I've had the privilege of contributing to numerous innovative projects across various domains. My professional journey has allowed me to excel in Product Development, Process Development, Packaging Development, Quality Assurance, and Continuous Improvement roles, with a strong emphasis on sound research, innovation, climate change, and sustainability. Whether designing environmentally conscious formulas or implementing processes that reduce carbon impact, I’ve made it a priority to align innovation with planetary stewardship.

In Spring 2025, I served as Crew Commander for the ARG-8i mission at the Inflatable Lunar-Mars Analog Habitat (ILMAH) in North Dakota. This 14-day analog mission explored the challenges of long-duration spaceflight through sealed habitat operations, resource recycling, and sustainable living systems. Earlier in February, I served as the Mission Specialist for the ARG-1S mission at the Space Analog for the Moon and Mars (SAM) at the Biosphere 2 facility in Arizona, where we focused on regenerative life support, hydroponics, and water and waste management to simulate long-term survival on other planetary bodies.

As an active advocate for space exploration, sustainability, and STEM education, I dedicate my time to organizations like Future Engineers and the Planetary Society. My passion lies in inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers to reach for the stars, while ensuring that our steps forward are mindful of the world we leave behind.

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The Battle

Martin Leitner

Yuki Nishimura

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