Eric Beringause Named CEO, President of Dean Foods

Eric Beringause has been named president and CEO of Dean Foods Co., effective July 29. He succeeds Ralph Scozzafava, who stepped down as CEO and his position on the board.

Dean Foods, a dairy processor based in Dallas, has seen its stock down by 67% this year as it attempts a turnaround. It has said it was exploring a potential sale.

“We believe Eric is the right leader to drive the transformation of the business as the company continues to execute on its enterprise-wide cost productivity plan and its previously announced exploration of strategic alternatives,” said Jim Turner, nonexecutive chairman of the Dean Foods board. “He has a long track record of creating value in dairy and consumer products companies, as well as a unique combination of turnaround and operational expertise.”

Beringause has more than 30 years of experience at a range of brands in the food, beverage and CPG industries, including food processing and manufacturing. He most recently was CEO of Gehl Foods, a producer of dairy-based beverages and food products.

“I am honored to join Dean Foods at this important juncture,” said Beringause. “Dean Foods is the nation’s largest dairy processor and a leader in the industry, and I am excited to work with the board and management team to leverage our scale and substantial assets to realize the significant opportunities available to transform our company. My top priority will be to ensure we have the right footprint and strategies in place to drive sustainable growth and profitability for the benefit of our shareholders, employees, customers and other stakeholders.”