Dean Foods has appointed chief commercial officer Ralph Scozzafava to the position of chief operating officer.

In his new role, Scozzafava will continue to oversee the commercial functions of sales, marketing, and R&D at the US dairy group, along with the addition of operations and procurement and logistics.

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He has been with Dean Foods since October 2014 where he joined as chief commercial officer. Prior to this, he was CEO of Furniture Brands International. He has also held roles at Wm. Wrigley Jr, Johnson & Johnson and the Campbell Soup Co.

"Ralph is a passionate leader with a successful track record in building strong, effective teams," said CEO Gregg Tanner. "His effectiveness during his tenure as CCO is a great launching pad as he steps into the role of COO. I look forward to working closely with Ralph for many years to come."

"This is an exciting time at Dean Foods," Tanner said. "Together we will continue to help Dean Foods deliver on our vision of being the most admired and trusted provider of wholesome, great-tasting products at every occasion."

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