Bernard Kastory

Corporate

With a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Northwestern University, I dedicated 35 years to Bestfoods, a global consumer food company boasting a $10 billion portfolio including brands such as Hellmann’s, Knorr, Skippy, SB Thomas, Arnold, and Entenmanns. My extensive corporate journey involved pivotal roles, from serving as President of the $1.5 billion worldwide food ingredients division to leading the $2 billion U.S. baking division, acting as Chief Financial Officer, and overseeing Bestfoods’ operations in Asia, Latin America, and the North American Baking business. This encompassed managing 20,000 employees across 30 countries, with a total revenue of $4 billion. Following Bestfoods’ acquisition by Unilever, I retired and transitioned to academia, becoming the Harder Professor of Business at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. During my seven-year tenure, I taught Business Strategy, International Business, and Corporate Governance, and initiated a mentoring program connecting students with business executives. Simultaneously, I contributed significantly to various non-profit boards, dedicating 15 years to organizations such as the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Double H Ranch, Vero Beach Museum of Art, and United Against Poverty in roles ranging from Board member to Treasurer and Board Chair.

“UP doesn’t lift people out of poverty, rather it empowers people to lift themselves and their families to sustainable economic self-sufficiency through our programs and ongoing support.”