PITTSBURGH & NORTHFIELD, Ill. -- The Kraft Heinz Co. has announced its senior leadership team, effective upon the close of the merger transaction.
“Our new leadership team represents the best of the best in business with proven track records for delivering results,” said Bernardo Hees, future CEO of the proposed Kraft Heinz. “I am thrilled that this world-class group of executives will join me to further strengthen our iconic brands with our industry-leading go-to-market strategies, innovation pipeline and global infrastructure.”
The domestic team includes:
- Paulo Basilio has been appointed executive vice president and CFO. Basilio joined Heinz in June 2013 as CFO. He is responsible for all the finance functions and the investor relations area.
- George Zoghbi has been appointed COO of U.S. commercial business. In his role, Zoghbi will lead the company’s more than $19 billion U.S. business comprised of five commercial business units. Zoghbi has been COO at Kraft since February 2015. Zoghbi joined Kraft in 2007 as vice president and area director of Australia and New Zealand.
Given the size of the combined business, Canada will now become a standalone zone reporting directly to Bernardo Hees. The president of Canada will be announced in August. Chris Kempczinski will remain with the company until September to assist the Kraft Canadian and overseas business transition. Kempczinski will assist with the integration in Canada, and support the rollout of Kraft brands outside North America. Most recently, he was executive vice president of growth and president of international.
As part of Bernardo Hees’ extended leadership team, the following will report to Zoghbi, head of the U.S. commercial business:
- Eduardo Luz has been appointed president of the U.S. ketchup, condiments, sauces, dressings and frozen business. This includes the entire Kraft and Heinz U.S. condiments and frozen portfolio. Luz joined Heinz in June 2013 and was rapidly promoted to serve as zone president of Heinz North America.
- Joe Fragnito has been promoted to president of the U.S. beverages and snack nuts business. Fragnito joined Kraft in 2000 and most recently was vice president of marketing for meal combinations, including Lunchables.
- Howard Friedman has been appointed president of the U.S. cheese and dairy business. Friedman joined Kraft in 1997 and most recently served as president of Kraft’s U.S. cheese and dairy division. Previously he was a president in the Kraft sales organization.
- Mark Magnesen has been appointed President of the U.S. meat business. Magnesen joined Kraft in 1991 and most recently served as president of the Oscar Mayer division, which includes management of Oscar Mayer and Lunchables.
- Tom Lopez has been promoted to president of the U.S. meal solutions and desserts business. Lopez joined Kraft in 1999 and most recently was vice president of marketing for refreshment beverages.
- David Toy has been promoted to president of U.S. foodservice. Toy joined Heinz in 2008 in the finance/IT area. Most recently Toy served as managing director of Heinz’s North American foodservice business.
- Sergio Nahuz is promoted to head of U.S. sales. Nahuz joined Heinz in July 2013 as CFO of Heinz Europe and most recently served as managing director of Heinz’s U.S. consumer products business.
- Andre Maciel has been promoted to head of U.S. commercial finance including U.S. budget and business planning (BBP), zero based budgeting (ZBB) and revenue management. Maciel joined Heinz in 2013 as the global leader of BBP and revenue management. He will report to Basilio.
- Nina Barton has been promoted to senior vice president of marketing innovation, research and development. Barton joined Kraft in 2011 and most recently was vice president of marketing for coffee.
The following individuals will remain with the company for a transition period: Diane Johnson May, executive vice president of human resources at Kraft, will leave in December after 35 years with the company. From now until December, Johnson May has agreed to work full-time as a close advisor to Bernardo Hees and Melissa Werneck. Tom Corley, executive vice president, U.S. sales at Kraft, will work with Sergio Nahuz, head of U.S. sales during a transition period until November.
The company also announced the departures of the following Kraft executives either upon completion of the merger or within 30 days: James Kehoe, executive vice president and CFO; Kim K. Rucker, executive vice president of corporate and legal affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary; Robert Gorski, executive vice president of integrated supply chain; Jane Hilk, chief marketing officer and president and beverages and snack nuts; Dave Ciesinski, president of meal solutions; Fred Paglia, president foodservice and U.S. growth channels. Chuck Davis, executive vice president of research, development, quality and innovation, will also be leaving the organization.
Pittsburgh-based H.J. Heinz is one of the world’s leading marketers and producers of healthy, convenient and affordable foods specializing in ketchup, sauces, meals, soups, snacks and infant nutrition. Heinz is a global family of leading branded products, including Heinz Ketchup, sauces, soups, beans, pasta and infant foods (representing over one third of Heinz’s total sales), Ore-Ida potato products, Weight Watchers Smart Ones entrées, T.G.I. Friday’s snacks, and Plasmon infant nutrition.
Northfield, Ill.-based Kraft Foods Group is one of North America’s largest consumer packaged food and beverage companies, with annual revenues of more than $18 billion. The company’s iconic brands include Kraft, Capri Sun, Jell-O, Kool-Aid, Lunchables, Maxwell House, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Planters and Velveeta.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.