Checkout who is moving onwards and upwards in FoodNavigator-USA's latest new hires gallery, featuring Dean Foods, Sprouts Farmers Market, Fresh Thyme, Stop & Shop, Ithaca Hummus, Revolution Foods, PepsiCo, Campbell Soup, Weller, Caliva and more...
It's all change at the top at Dean Foods, which is waving goodbye to CEO Ralph Scozzafava and replacing him with dairy industry veteran Eric Beringause, who "has a unique combination of turnaround and operational expertise," according to Dean Foods board member Jim Turner.
The loss-making company, which is exploring a sale among other strategic options to enhance shareholder value, has diversified with the acquisitions of brands such as Good Karma and Uncle Matt's Organic, but has recently been forced to close plants and lay off staff.
In May, Scozzafava told analysts the company had "been in conversations with folks" but said "it's possible we won't do anything and execute the plan we have."
Eduardo Luz, formerly CMO at Kraft Heinz, is the new CEO at 8Greens, which makes health and wellness products containing blue green algae, organic aloe vera, barley grass, spinach, kale, spirulina, chlorella and wheatgrass.
"As the company continues to grow, [8Greens co-founder] Dawn [Russell] and I realized that hard work and entrepreneurship can only take us so far, and that we were only scratching the surface of our brand's potential," said cofounder and chairman Jamie Russell.
"When looking to fill the role of CEO, we searched for a strong leader and communicator with global experience who we could trust and who could capture the brand's potential. We found this in Eduardo, who brings a unique background and skill set to the role."
CPG veteran Karuna Rawal - who most recently served as president and group client lead at ad agency Leo Burnett is the first chief marketing officer at Sustainable Bioproducts, which is developing protein-packed food ingredients from micro-organisms.
The company - which recently raised $33m from high-profile backers including Bill Gates and the venture arms of food giants Danone and ADM - is led by Thomas Jonas, who spent four years scrutinizing microbes that can survive in extreme environments such as the volcanic springs at Yellowstone National Park.
What makes these ‘extremophiles’ so alluring as a potential food source, says Jonas, is that they have evolved to do more with less – that is, they can produce high quality protein (one of the fungal strains he is working on has all the essential amino acids and a PDCAAS score of 0.93, which is close to animal protein) fast, with minimal inputs.
As the new chief brand strategist at cannabis brand Caliva, Shawn 'JAY-Z' Carter will "play a crucial role driving creative direction, outreach efforts and strategy," says Caliva, which recently acquired functional beverage brand Zola and says beverages featuring hemp-derived CBD will start to hit the US market around August or September.
PepsiCo's Greater China CEO Ram Krishnan has been promoted to the role of global chief commercial officer, replacing Laxman Narasimhan, who has left to head up Reckitt Benckiser Group.
Chris Foley has been appointed president of Campbell Meals & Beverages, replacing Roberto Leopardi. Foley has spent 20 years at the company in a variety of roles in the US, Australia and New Zealand. Most recently, he served as chief marketing officer at Campbell Snacks.
Alvin H. Crawford is the new VP of sales at Revolution Foods, a provider of healthy school meals. He previously served as general manager for Public Consulting Group's education practice, CEO of Knowledge Delivery Systems, and SVP of sales and marketing for SchoolNet.
"Alvin offers an incredible wealth of sales, customer success strategy and management experience in the K-12 and citywide space on a national level," said Revolution Foods CEO Kristin Groos-Richmond.
Fast-growing hummus brand Ithaca has snapped up former Sabra exec Pete Loizzo as its new VP of sales. Loizzo will add "tremendous horsepower" to the team at Ithaca, which launched in a farmer's market five years ago and is now in around 3,500 stores, said founder and CEO Chris Kirby.
Jack Sinclair has been appointed CEO at Sprouts Farmers Market following a 35-year career at retailers including 99 Cents Only Stores, Walmart, and UK grocer Safeway PLC. Brad Lukow, interim co-CEO and CFO, has resigned, and will be succeeded as interim CFO by Lawrence P. Molloy until a permanent successor has been named.
Fellow natural grocer Fresh Thyme has also made changes to its leadership team, promoting Dean Little - who joined in 2017 - to the role of COO , and hiring former Meijer and Delhaize America exec Tod Pepin as chief merchandising officer. Fresh Thyme, which operates 75 stores in 11 states, has been steadily ramping up its private label offer, and teamed up with Instacart last year to offer home deliveries.
Giant Food president Gordon Reid has moved into the same role at Stop & Shop following the decision by Mark McGowan to leave the company. Reid officially took the helm this week, although McGowan will remain through the year-end, at the company’s request, to ensure a seamless transition.
CBD-fueled snacks and beverages brand Weller has appointed Megan Siegel Jansen - formerly with allergy-friendly brand free2b Foods - as its new VP of sales. “Weller has experienced monumental growth this year and we felt it was the perfect time to expand our team as we transition to a new phase of our brand,” said co-founder John Simmons.
Organic rice, rice products and US-grown quinoa specialist Lundberg Family Farms has named Susan Shields VP of Marketing. Shields has previously worked at Quaker Oats, Del Monte, Safeway, Jamba Juice and Go Raw in marketing roles.
Meal kit firm Blue Apron has hired Irina Krechmer as chief technology officer, reporting to new CEO Linda Findley Kozlowski.
Sheryl O’Loughlin has stepped down from functional beverage brand REBBL after four years at the helm, and has been replaced by thinkThin CEO Michele Kessler.
Bryan Zumwalt has join the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) as EVP of public affairs, while Stacy Papadopoulos will join as general counsel and SVP of operations and special initiatives. Zumwalt was previously VP of federal affairs for the American Chemistry Council, while Papadopoulos was general counsel and interim CEO of the American Gaming Association. Read more HERE.
Jefferson Heatwole is the new chief sales officer, and Dorothy Muszynska is the new chief marketing officer, at Shenandoah Valley Organic, which makes organic chicken products under the Farmer Focus brand.
OXIGEN Beverages has hired Jeff Seavey as chief sales officer and Matthew Rothschild as national director–DSD & wholesale. The new hires - who have experience at Core Hydration, Glaceau, ZICO, Hain Celestial and Nestle Waters - will help to drive nationwide distribution of the firm's 'oxygen-enhanced' waters and shots.
Tosi has appointed former Clif Bar exec Keith Neumann as President and COO. The brand, which closed a series A funding round last year, is best known for its plant-based protein fueled snacks.
Joan Braca, president, food & beverage solutions at Tate & Lyle, will leave on August 30 to take up a new role at Johnson Matthey. A replacement for Braca - who joined Tate & Lyle in January 2013 as SVP and general manager, Asia Pacific - has not yet been announced.
