Today’s announcement of The Kraft Heinz Company’s senior
leadership team marks another major milestone in the
soon-to-be-completed merger.
This Smart News Release features multimedia.
View the full release here:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150629006250/en/
“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 Company. “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.”
Effective upon the close of the merger transaction, The Kraft
Heinz Company senior leadership team is:
Paulo Basilio is appointed EVP and Chief Financial
Officer. Mr. Basilio joined Heinz in June 2013 as Chief Financial
Officer. He is responsible for all the finance functions and the
investor relations area.
Matt Hill is appointed Zone President of Europe. Mr. Hill
has been Zone President of Heinz Europe since June 2013. Prior to
his current appointment, Mr. Hill was President of Heinz UK &
Ireland. Mr. Hill joined Heinz in 2010 as Chief Marketing Officer
for Heinz UK.
Emin Mammadov is appointed Zone President of Russia,
India and Middle East, Turkey & Africa. Mr. Mammadov joined
Heinz in 2006 as Marketing Director for Heinz Russia and has been
President of RIMEA since 2013.
Michael Mullen is appointed SVP of Corporate and
Government Affairs. He will be responsible for leading internal and
external communications, CSR and government affairs. He will also
have responsibility for the Company Foundation, real estate and
facilities. Mr. Mullen joined Heinz in 1998.
Eduardo Pelleissone is appointed EVP of Global
Operations. In this role, Mr. Pelleissone will have direct
accountability for the Company’s supply chain, quality, procurement
and operations functions in North America and globally. Mr.
Pelleissone joined Heinz in July 2013 as Head of Operations.
Marcos Romaneiro is appointed Zone President of Asia
Pacific. Mr. Romaneiro has been Zone President of Heinz Asia
Pacific since June 2014. Mr. Romaneiro joined Heinz in 2013 as SVP
Global Finance.
Francisco Sa is appointed Zone President of Latin
America. Mr. Sa joined Heinz in June 2014 as Zone President of
Heinz Latin America. Mr. Sa served as Zone President for AB InBev’s
Latin America South business from 2012 to 2014.
Jim Savina is promoted to SVP, General Counsel and
Corporate Secretary. Mr. Savina joined Kraft in 2013, serving in
legal leadership positions and as Chief Compliance Officer. In his
new role, Mr. Savina will lead the Company’s legal function,
including corporate governance & securities, transactions,
regulatory, intellectual property, litigation and labor &
employment.
Melissa Werneck is appointed SVP Global Human Resources,
Performance and IT. Ms. Werneck joined Heinz in July of 2013 and
led Heinz’s talent development and the Integrated Management
System, which includes the Management by Objectives (MBO)
Program.
George Zoghbi is appointed Chief Operating Officer of
U.S. commercial business. In his role, Mr. Zoghbi will lead the
Company’s more than $19 billion U.S. business comprised of five
commercial business units. Mr. Zoghbi has been COO at Kraft since
February 2015. Mr. 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 stand-alone 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. Chris will assist with the integration in Canada,
and support the roll-out of Kraft brands outside North
America. Most recently, Chris was EVP, Growth and President,
International.
As part of Bernardo Hees’ extended leadership team, the
following will report to Mr. Zoghbi, head of the U.S. commercial
business:
Eduardo Luz is 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.
Mr. Luz joined Heinz in June 2013 and was rapidly promoted to serve
as Zone President of Heinz North America.
Joe Fragnito is promoted to President of the U.S.
Beverages & Snack Nuts business. Mr. Fragnito joined Kraft in
2000 and most recently was VP of Marketing for Meal Combinations,
including Lunchables.
Howard Friedman is appointed President of the U.S. Cheese
& Dairy business. Mr. Friedman joined Kraft in 1997 and most
recently served as President of Kraft’s U.S. Cheese & Dairy
division. Previously he was a President in the Kraft Sales
organization.
Mark Magnesen is appointed President of the U.S. Meat
business. Mr. 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 is promoted to President of the U.S. Meal
Solutions & Desserts business. Mr. Lopez joined Kraft in 1999
and most recently was VP of Marketing for Refreshment
Beverages.
David Toy is promoted to President of U.S. Foodservice.
Mr. Toy joined Heinz in 2008 in the Finance/IT area. Most recently
Mr. Toy served as Managing Director of Heinz’s North American
Foodservice business.
Sergio Nahuz is promoted to Head of U.S. Sales. Mr. 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 is promoted to head of U.S. Commercial
Finance including U.S. Budget and Business Planning (BBP), Zero
Based Budgeting (ZBB) and Revenue Management. Mr. Maciel joined
Heinz in 2013 as the global leader of BBP and Revenue Management.
Andre will report dotted-line to Paulo Basilio, CFO.
Nina Barton is promoted to SVP of Marketing Innovation,
Research and Development. Ms. Barton joined Kraft in 2011 and most
recently was VP of Marketing for Coffee.
The following individuals will remain with the Company for a
transition period:
Diane Johnson May, EVP of Human Resources at Kraft, will
leave in December after 35 years with the Company. From now until
December, Ms. Johnson May has agreed to work full-time as a close
advisor to Bernardo Hees and Melissa Werneck.
Tom Corley, EVP, 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, EVP and Chief Financial Officer; Kim K. Rucker, EVP,
Corporate & Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate
Secretary; Robert Gorski, EVP, Integrated Supply Chain; Jane Hilk,
Chief Marketing Officer and President, Beverages & Snack Nuts;
Dave Ciesinski, President of Meal Solutions; Fred Paglia,
President, Foodservice and U.S. Growth Channels. As previously
communicated, Chuck Davis, EVP, Research, Development, Quality and
Innovation, will also be leaving the organization.
“I sincerely thank these committed executives for their
leadership and numerous contributions to Kraft, and I wish them all
the best in the future,” said Bernardo Hees.
ABOUT HEINZ
H.J. Heinz Company, offering “Good Food Every Day”™ 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 provides superior quality, taste
and nutrition for all eating occasions whether in the home,
restaurants, the office or “on-the-go.” 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. Heinz is famous for its iconic brands on six continents,
showcased by Heinz® Ketchup, The World’s Favorite Ketchup®.
ABOUT KRAFT FOODS GROUP
Kraft Foods Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: KRFT) 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. Kraft’s
22,000 employees in the U.S. and Canada have a passion for making
the foods and beverages people love. Kraft is a member of the
Standard & Poor’s 500 and the NASDAQ-100 indices. For more
information, visit www.kraftfoodsgroup.com and
www.facebook.com/kraft.
Forward-Looking
Statements
Certain of the matters discussed in this release constitute
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities
Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, both as
amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Words such as “will,” “access,” “focus,” “deliver,” “work”
“continue” or the negative of such terms or other variations
thereof and words and terms of similar substance used in connection
with any discussion of future plans, actions, or events identify
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed
merger.
There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements included in this communication. For example, the
expected timing and likelihood of completion of the proposed
merger, including the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of
any required governmental and regulatory approvals of the proposed
merger that could reduce anticipated benefits or cause the parties
to abandon the transaction, the ability to successfully integrate
the businesses, the occurrence of any event, change or other
circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger
agreement, the possibility that Kraft shareholders may not approve
the merger agreement, the risk that the parties may not be able to
satisfy the conditions to the proposed transaction in a timely
manner or at all, risks related to disruption of management time
from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction,
the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed
transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of
Kraft’s common stock, and the risk that the proposed transaction
and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of
Kraft and Heinz to retain customers and retain and hire key
personnel and maintain relationships with their suppliers and
customers and on their operating results and businesses generally,
problems may arise in successfully integrating the businesses of
the companies, which may result in the combined company not
operating as effectively and efficiently as expected, the combined
company may be unable to achieve cost-cutting synergies or it may
take longer than expected to achieve those synergies, and other
factors. All such factors are difficult to predict and are beyond
our control. We disclaim and do not undertake any obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statement in this
communication, except as required by applicable law or
regulation.
Additional Information and Where to
Find It
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of
any vote or approval. This communication may be deemed to be
solicitation material in respect of the proposed transaction
between Kraft and Heinz. In connection with the proposed
transaction, Heinz filed a registration statement on Form S-4,
containing a proxy statement/prospectus (as amended, the “S-4”)
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The
registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on
June 2, 2015 and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus has
been mailed to stockholders of Kraft. This communication is not a
substitute for the registration statement, definitive proxy
statement/prospectus or any other documents that Heinz or Kraft has
filed with the SEC or sent to shareholders in connection with the
proposed transaction. SHAREHOLDERS OF KRAFT ARE URGED TO READ ALL
RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security
holders may obtain copies of the S-4, including the proxy
statement/prospectus, and other documents filed with the SEC free
of charge at the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov. Copies of
documents filed with the SEC by Kraft will be made available free
of charge on Kraft’s website
at http://www.kraftfoodsgroup.com/. Copies of documents filed
with the SEC by Heinz will be made available free of charge on
Heinz’s website at http://www.heinz.com/.
Participants in
Solicitation
Kraft and its directors and executive officers, and Heinz and
its directors and executive officers, may be deemed to be
participants in the solicitation of proxies from the holders of
Kraft common stock in respect of the proposed transaction.
Information about the directors and executive officers of Kraft is
set forth in the proxy statement for Kraft’s 2015 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 18, 2015.
Information about the directors and executive officers of Heinz is
set forth in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus. Investors
may obtain additional information regarding the interests of such
participants by reading the definitive proxy statement/prospectus
regarding the proposed transaction. You may obtain free copies of
these documents as described in the preceding paragraph.
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150629006250/en/
H.J. Heinz CompanyMichael
Mullen, Senior Vice President of Corporate & Government
Affairs, +1 412-456-5751michael.mullen@us.hjheinz.comorKraft Foods GroupChristopher Jakubik, CFA
(investors), +1 847-646-5494ir@kraftfoods.com
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