CHICAGO -- Quaker Oats here said Robert S. Morrison has been named chairman, president and chief executive officer, effective immediately.
hief executive officer of Northfield, Ill.-based Kraft Foods Inc., North America, a subsidiary of Philip Morris Cos., New York.
During his tenure there he helped increase sales and profits by defining long-term strategic directions and concentrating resources on Kraft's core business and brands, the company said.
Commenting on his new post, Morrison said, "I am pleased and proud to have the opportunity to lead one of America's great branded food and beverage companies into the next phase of its growth and development.
"Quaker's grain-based products and Gatorade thirst-quencher businesses have performed very well, and I am pleased to be taking the helm of a company with a talented management team, powerhouse global brands and a solid infrastructure. "My immediate priority is to meet the entire senior management and as many employees as possible, and I look forward to moving ahead as a unified team to build and deliver value for our shareholders and create new opportunities for our many dedicated employees."
Morrison began his career at Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati. He joined Kraft in 1983 as head of its cheese division until Kraft was acquired by Philip Morris.
In 1989 he was named president of Kraft General Foods Canada and two years later became president of General Foods.
Last week, Philip Morris named Robert A. Eckert, 43, as president and CEO of Kraft. Eckert was group vice president, with responsibility for operations, sales and customer services, technology, marketing services, Oscar Mayer and Foodservice.
