Kris Nance’s Unexpected Journey from Category Leadership to Brand Management
After embracing opportunities to work across teams, Kris built strong relationships and explored new roles with the support of his peers, highlighting the culture at Ferrara® of agility and collaborations that supports personal growth.
Short Description of Kris Nance's Ferrara Journey
- Associate Category Manager – Ahold Delhaize, HEB & Regional Grocery August 2019-October 2021
- Category Manager – Ahold Delhaize, HEB & Regional Grocery, October 2021-August 2022
- Associate Brand Manager – NERDS Candy Innovation, August 2022-April 2023
- Senior Associate Brand Manager – Seasonal Innovation April 2023-Present
- BE Co-Chair: 2022-2023
- DEI Council 2022-2024
Q&A with Kris
Q: Can you share a bit about your initial role at Ferrara and what drew you to the company?
KN: I joined Ferrara as the Associate Category Manager, supporting Grocery East and Regional Grocery. Having previously worked in Category Leadership at other CPG companies, I was excited to contribute to Ferrara's impressive growth. Upon joining the team, I was energized by the company's evolving culture. From the outset, Ferrara provided me with opportunities to tackle complex business issues, while also allowing me to lead and shape the internal culture that supports this growth.
Q: What were some of the key milestones in your journey from your initial role to your current position as a Senior Associate brand Manager?
KN: Beginning in Category Leadership, my transition to brand management was bolstered by several opportunities to work on cross-functional teams and task forces beyond the initial scope of my role. This exposure allowed me to meet and develop relationships with members on the Marketing team.
Q: How has the opportunity to work with different functions impacted your career trajectory? How has Ferrara’s career lattice model, as opposed to a traditional ladder approach, benefited your career development?
KN: I am currently benefitting from the career lattice model. I’ve been able to explore new functions and grow my career in those functions relatively easily and with organizational support. The cross-pollination of ideas and experiences on my teams has allowed us to be more agile and collaborative.
Q: Can you share a memorable moment or achievement at Ferrara that stands out in your career journey?
KN: I was recently invited to speak at Ferrara’s 2024 Sugar Summit about my career journey and the company's core values. It was a full-circle moment for me, as I believe that embracing these core values has been crucial to my success at Ferrara. Receiving the Empathy Award on the Sales and Marketing team in 2022 and 2024, and working to exemplify these values, has been especially rewarding and has opened up many opportunities for me at Ferrara.
