Fumi James

Fumi James (Watanabe) is an accomplished design leader with extensive experience in brand strategy and innovation. Currently serving as Sr. Director of Global Foods & Breakthrough Innovations Brand Design at PepsiCo since November 2016, Fumi directs 360 design initiatives for major global food brands and leads breakthrough innovations in brand design. Previously, Fumi held the role of Sr. Director of Global Sustainability & Pepsi Lipton Partnership Brand Design, successfully repositioning brands and achieving significant growth in the tea category. Prior to PepsiCo, Fumi founded Alkemi Design, LLC, and worked at Starbucks in various capacities, including Creative Manager overseeing significant branding efforts and product redesigns. Fumi holds a BFA in Graphic Design, Interactive Design, and Illustration from Western Washington University and completed a Circular Economy Masterclass in Sustainability Studies at the University of Exeter Business School.