Leonel ‘Leo’ Figueira is a seasoned bakery specialist with over 20 years of experience in the global FMCG and food ingredient industries. With a strong scientific and technical foundation spanning bakery, enzymes, emulsifier, taste  applications , and food protection technologies, he has supported leading manufacturers across Europe, North Africa, and now Africa. Leo has held several senior roles at Kerry and AB Mauri, consistently driving innovation, application excellence, and strategic customer partnerships across diverse bakery formats.

He currently serves as Business Development and Technical Sales Bakery Manager Africa Region  at Kerry, where he applies his broad expertise to deliver high performance, consumer relevant bakery solutions that balance taste, freshness, texture, and cost efficiency. Known for his versatility and ability to translate market insights into scalable innovations, Leo works closely with customers to optimise formulations, solve technical challenges, and unlock new growth opportunities in Africa’s dynamic bakery sector.