Ocean Spray Cranberries has appointed Nestlé executive Abigail Buckwalter as its new president and CEO.
Buckwalter succeeds Tom Hayes, who announced late last year he was retiring.
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Ocean Spray chairman Peter Dhillon described Buckwalter as “a transformational leader”.
He added: “She brings both the global business experience needed to drive growth and the instincts to build brands that last. While her track-record of operational excellence and innovation is impressive, what truly set her apart is how she thinks about and enacts people-first leadership every day.”
Buckwalter spent more than 15 years at Nestlé, joining the Swiss giant as a marketing manager in New Jersey.
Prior to joining Ocean Spray, she was the CEO of the US unit of Nestlé’s health-science arm.
“Our industry finds itself at an incredibly dynamic tipping point in consumer behavior and buying habits. I believe Ocean Spray, with its iconic brand and global platform, is uniquely positioned to deliver against those expectations around taste and health benefits,” Buckwalter said.
Hayes, a former Tyson Foods chief executive, joined the cranberry co-op in 2020.
He took the helm five months after the juices and snacks maker terminated the contract of previous head Bobby Chacko for violating an anti-harassment policy.
