Margaret R. Bath joined CIMMYT’s Board of Trustees in 2019. She is a CEO with a strong background in research and development (R&D) and quality systems in food.
Bath spent seventeen years with the Kellogg Company, including over twelve years as Chief Technology Officer. In that role, she globalized the company’s R&D and quality network. During her tenure, global staff increased by almost 50% to over 900 professionals and the operating budget increased by approximately 20%. During her last six years at the Kellogg Company, six new R&D centers were opened, four of them in emerging markets. This globalization led to broader access of talent, external knowledge and new technologies, thereby strengthening the company’s entire global network, yielding stronger ideas, and speed to market.
Prior to joining the Kellogg Company in 2000, she spent several years at PepsiCo’s Frito Lay division, where she held positions of progressive responsibility in R&D.
Currently, as Founder & Managing Partner at Strong Harbor, LLC — a consultancy helping food companies with R&D and quality challenges — Bath is focused on bringing unique technology and regulatory insights to others in the consumer goods industry.
Throughout her career, Bath has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations. She is currently serving on the boards of directors at EIT Food, the International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) and Monnell Chemical Senses.
Bath holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science from the University of Maryland, United States, and an Honorary Doctorate in Bioscience Engineering from the Katholieke University in Leuven, Belgium.
Capacity development 
