Kraft Heinz Company Names Senior Leadership Team Members

The Kraft Heinz Company has named its senior leadership team, which marks another major milestone in the soon-to-be-completed merger. “Our new leadership team represents the best of the best in business with proven track records for delivering results,” says 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 has been appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer. 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 has been appointed zone president of Europe. Hill has been zone president of Heinz Europe since June 2013. Prior to his current appointment, Hill was president of Heinz UK & Ireland. He joined Heinz in 2010 as chief marketing officer for Heinz UK. Emin Mammadov has been appointed zone president of Russia, India and Middle East, Turkey & Africa. Mammadov joined Heinz in 2006 as marketing director for Heinz Russia and has been president of RIMEA since 2013. Michael Mullen has been appointed senior vice president 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. Mullen joined Heinz in 1998. Eduardo Pelleissone has been appointed executive vice president of global operations. In this role, Pelleissone will have direct accountability for the company’s supply chain, quality, procurement and operations functions in North America and globally. Pelleissone joined Heinz in July 2013 as head of operations. Marcos Romaneiro has been appointed zone president of Asia Pacific. Romaneiro has been zone president of Heinz Asia Pacific since June 2014. He joined Heinz in 2013 as senior vice president global finance. Francisco Sa has been appointed zone president of Latin America. Sa joined Heinz in June 2014 as zone president of Heinz Latin America. He served as zone president for AB InBev’s Latin America South business from 2012 to 2014. Jim Savina has been promoted to senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. Savina joined Kraft in 2013, serving in legal leadership positions and as chief compliance officer. In his new role, Savina will lead the company’s legal function, including corporate governance and securities, transactions, regulatory, intellectual property, litigation and labor and employment. Melissa Werneck has been appointed senior vice president global human resources, Performance and IT. 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 has been appointed chief operating officer 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. He 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 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. Kempczinski will assist with the integration in Canada, and support the roll-out of Kraft brands outside North America. Most recently, he was executive vice president, growth and president, 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 has been 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. Andre will report dotted-line to Paulo Basilio, CFO. 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 chief financial officer; Kim K. Rucker, executive vice president, corporate and legal affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary; Robert Gorski, executive vice president, integrated supply chain; Jane Hilk, chief marketing officer and president, beverages and snack nuts; Dave Ciesinski, president of meal solutions; Fred Paglia, president, foodservice and U.S. growth channels. As previously communicated, Chuck Davis, executive vice president, 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,” says Hees.