NORTHFIELD, Ill. -- Kraft Foods Inc. has announced a new executive team that it said will sharpen the company's focus on innovation, marketing and growth.
Jeri Finard has been named to the newly created position of executive vice president and chief marketing officer to lead Consumer Innovation & Marketing Services. This new group merges the company's Global Category Development and Global Marketing Resources & Initiatives (GMRI) functions. As a result of combining these two groups, Paula Sneed, executive vice president of GMRI, has chosen to [image-nocss] leave Kraft after a transition period. During this time, she will advise the company on a number of marketing excellence initiatives.
Rick Searer has been named executive vice president and president of Kraft North America Commercial (KNAC). Under Searer's leadership, the presidents who head the five North American sectors and North America Foodservice will have significantly more authority to run their respective businesses. He has been with the company for 25 years, most recently serving as group vice president and president of North America Convenient Meals Sectorcurrently the company's fastest-growing North American sector. Given the redefined roles within KNAC and a desire to pursue his own career aspirations, Dave Johnson, executive vice president and president of KNAC, has chosen to leave the company.
Some time ago, Hugh Roberts, executive vice president and president of Kraft International Commercial (KIC), informed the company of his intention to retire. An external search has been under way for his replacement. Roberts will stay on until early next year to assist with the transition.
David Brearton has been named executive vice president of global business services and strategy, which includes responsibility for areas such as information systems, business process improvement and mergers and acquisitions. Alene Korby will continue in her role as executive vice president and chief information officer, reporting to Brearton, while also assuming leadership for managing the company's outsourced and shared services. Linda Hefner, executive vice president of global strategy and business development, has expressed a desire to pursue an opportunity outside the company and will leave Kraft following a transition period.
Marc Firestone has been named to the newly created position of executive vice president of corporate and legal affairs and general counsel. He will lead the company's communications, government affairs, community involvement, law and compliance activities.
Continuing in their current roles are: Jim Dollive, executive vice president and CFO; Karen May, executive vice president of global human resources; Jean Spence, executive vice president of global technology and quality; and Franz-Josef Vogelsang, executive vice president of global supply chain.
Our new team will build a Kraft that is bolder, more agile, more creative and more focused, said Irene Rosenfeld, CEO of Kraft Foods. We're putting more day-to-day decision-making in the hands of our North American sectors and international regions - the people closest to our consumers, customers and markets. And, we will focus more intensely on consumers' evolving food and beverage needs to take full advantage of our broad product portfolio and to accelerate growth.
The nine members of Kraft's executive team report to Rosenfeld, who was named CEO in June 2006. These management changes are effective immediately.
Kraft North America Commercial comprises five consumer sectorsBeverages, Cheese & Dairy, Convenient Meals, Grocery and Snacks & Cerealsand North America Foodservice. Kraft International Commercial includes four geographic regionsAsia Pacific; Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa; European Union; and Latin America.
Northfirld, Ill.-based Kraft Foods offers brands including Kraft cheeses and dinners, Jacobs, Gevalia and Maxwell House coffees, Oscar Mayer meats, DiGiorno pizzas, Oreo cookies, Ritz crackers and chips, Philadelphia cream cheese, Milka and Cote d'Or chocolates, Honey Bunches of Oats cereals, Good Seasons salad dressings and Tang refreshment beverages.
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