Kraft CEO Irene Rosenfeld, who has held the top job at the US’s number one food manufacturer for a little more than two months, has shuffled her upper management, streamlining the executive team and sharpening the company’s focus on marketing and innovation.
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The move, which comes as the food company prepares to spin off from its parent group Altria, included the creation of a new product innovations position, the creation of a ten-member executive team and the elimination of three high-ranking executive positions.
Jeri Finard was promoted from executive vice president global product development to the newly created position of executive vice president and chief marketing officer, responsible for overseeing consumer research and new product efforts.
Rick Searer has become the company’s new executive vice president and president of Kraft North America commercial. Searer will spend the next month restructuring the division to decentralise decision making and put more control in the hands of regional managers.
David Brearton will serve as the new executive vice president, global business services & strategy, responsible for information systems and mergers and acquisitions. Marc Firestone was named to the new post of executive vice president, corporate & legal affairs and general counsel, handling the company’s communications, government affairs, community involvement, law and compliance activities.
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By GlobalDataKraft revealed that a number of high-ranking executives will be leaving the company. These include: Paula Sneed, who had been executive vice president of the global marketing resources group, Dave Johnson, executive vice president of Kraft North America commercial, Linda Hefner, executive vice president of global strategy and business development, and Hugh Roberts, executive vice president of Kraft international commercial, who is retiring.
“Our new team will build a Kraft that is bolder, more agile, more creative and more focused,” Rosenfeld said in a statement. “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.”
