Michael Pellegrino Has Been Appointed COO of
Sargento Following Retirements of Mike
McEvoy, EVP of Operations, and Kristi Jankowski, EVP of Innovation
PLYMOUTH, Wis., June 27,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sargento, the Wisconsin-based leader in cheese, has
announced third-generation family owner Mike McEvoy's retirement from his position as
Executive Vice President of Operations at Sargento. Sargento has
also shared news of Kristi
Jankowski's retirement from her long-held position as
Executive Vice President of Innovation. On the heels of these two
esteemed colleagues' retirements, Chief Executive Officer
Louie Gentine has appointed
Michael Pellegrino to Chief
Operating Officer.
Combined, Mike and Kristi bring more than 50 years of
exceptional contributions to Sargento. They will continue to
provide strategic counsel by staying on as advisors to the senior
leadership team through the end of the year.
- Mike McEvoy joined the
family-owned cheese brand in 1997. Over the years, Mike has held a
variety of positions at Sargento, including Trade Promotion
Manager, Marketing Manager, Vice President of Sales, President of
Food Ingredients Division and has led the Operations Team since
2013. As part of the third generation of the company's family
ownership, Mike has overseen more than $600
million of capital expansions while demonstrating care and
compassion for the Sargento Family of employees.
- Kristi Jankowski has been
with Sargento since 1999. Under her leadership as EVP of Innovation
the past 14 years, Kristi and her team have generated almost
$3 billion in revenue for the company
while enhancing its reputation as a category-leading
innovator. Kristi and her team have earned the prestigious
Nielsen Breakthrough Innovation award for Sargento Ultra-Thin
Slices® natural cheese, Sargento Balanced Breaks® and Sargento
Balanced Breaks ® Cheese & Crackers. She led the company's Idea
Center where Sargento employees can share their ideas that aid in
the development of Intellectual Property. This program has
generated numerous patents and trade secrets; developed technical
capabilities for the company and Sargento employees.
- Michael Pellegrino joined
Sargento in 2009. During his tenure he has held various executive
positions including his most recent role as President and Chief
Growth Officer. In his newly appointed role as Chief Operating
Officer, Michael's expanded responsibilities will include
leadership for the Business Units (Consumer Products and Food
Service & Ingredients), Operations, Innovation, Sales, Supply
Chain and Strategic Planning. During his tenure, Michael and his
team have accelerated the growth of the Sargento brand to become a
national market-share leader in the retail cheese category. He has
also led best-in-class integrated marketing campaigns that have
made Sargento one of the most recognized brands in the dairy
case.
"The Sargento Family and I have been blessed to have the
leadership and companionship of Mike and Kristi. We're grateful for
their years of service and for the continued advisory roles they
will hold through 2024," said Louie
Gentine, CEO of Sargento. "We also look forward to a
successful road ahead with Michael
Pellegrino as our Chief Operating Officer. Based on his
proven track record, we know he will deliver against our ambitious
growth plan while realizing our vision to the most innovative,
best-loved real food company."
About Sargento
With over 2,500 employees and net sales of nearly $1.8 billion, Sargento is a family-owned company
that has been a leader in cheese for more than 70 years. Founded in
1953 in Plymouth, Wisconsin, Sargento is proud to be the
company that successfully introduced America to pre-packaged sliced
and shredded natural cheeses and cheese blends. Today, Sargento is
still based in Wisconsin, where they make and market amazing,
high-quality shredded, sliced and snack natural cheese products, as
well as ingredients. Company leadership lives to serve local
communities and employees, whom they refer to as the Sargento
Family. www.sargento.com
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SOURCE Sargento Foods