Nolan Terry

Affiliation: Vice President and Director of Manufacturing, Nestlé Purina
Educational Background: BS, Statistics, University of Georgia

Nolan Terry is a proud native of Augusta, Georgia, and a graduate of the University of Georgia. He has been with Nestlé Purina for more than 25 years, serving in roles including quality assurance, operations management, and continuous improvement. He is currently the vice president and director of manufacturing, where his passion for leading high-performing teams helps support a nearly $10 billion business in the United States.

Immediately after graduation, Terry began his professional career at a privately owned pharmaceutical company in Atlanta. He joined Nestlé Purina’s management training program in 1995 and, after completion, worked in quality assurance management for nearly eight years with increasing levels of responsibility and in several locations, including Clinton, Iowa; Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; and St. Louis, Missouri.

In 2002, Terry began his leadership journey in operations management as the production manager at Purina’s Atlanta factory. Five years later, he moved with his young family to Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, where he landed his first factory manager position. In 2010, he was asked to lead a canning plant in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he served three years as factory manager. Terry moved back to St. Louis corporate operations in 2013, where he has served as director of safety health environment, vice president of manufacturing excellence, and his current role in operations.

Terry’s foundation in statistics has proven to be an asset in the various roles he has been in throughout his career. Analyzing and interpreting data effectively to drive decisions is essential to the success of the business. From statistical process control in factories to the modeling of production quantities, data is integrated into everything done within his organization. He believes data always tells a story and we have to be willing to listen and take action.

An avid sports fan, Terry coaches youth football and basketball in his spare time. He also serves on the board of trustees for the Multiple Sclerosis Society – Gateway Chapter in St. Louis. Terry and his wife, Leighanne, have three children—Jordyn, Jamisen, and Justin—along with their cocker spaniel, Rocky.