The Earthgrains Company (NYSE: EGR), the nation’s second-largest fresh packaged bread producer, announced today the promotion of John W. Iselin Jr. to the newly created position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Iselin, 47, formerly president of Worldwide Bakery Products, will oversee all domestic and international operations as well as the supporting functions of marketing, research and development, human resources, engineering, purchasing, information systems, and e-commerce and category management.
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“These changes will help the company further focus on driving top-line revenue growth, improve execution across all business units, and develop key executives through new assignments and expanded responsibilities,” Earthgrains’ Chairman and CEO Barry H. Beracha said. “Two years ago we aligned our reporting structure along worldwide business segment lines as we entered a period of expansion through acquisitions and continued focus on operational excellence. John has guided Worldwide Bakery Products through improvement and growth, including the integration of significant acquisitions in the United States and Europe. We now have our sights on taking our company to a higher level of performance consistent with better performing mid-cap food companies. The chief operating structure will better align staff functions in support of our business unit operations and our growth goals.”
Iselin, who has been with Earthgrains since 1983, will continue to report to Beracha. Other corporate functions reporting to Beracha are corporate human resources, finance, planning and development, legal and public communications.
“With this structure, we also will better leverage the talent we have in our domestic and international bakery and dough operations to better share best practices, innovation and superior execution,” Iselin said. “We are elevating the stature of marketing to support all domestic operations, consistent with our goals to drive top-line revenue growth. We are also adding marketing, category management and analytical resources to our field operations in our largest business, U.S. Bakery Products.”
In a related move, William H. Opdyke, 56, becomes President of Worldwide Refrigerated Dough Products and International Operations. Opdyke formerly headed the company’s global refrigerated-dough operations. His responsibilities will now include European Bakery Products. Opdyke will report to Iselin.
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By GlobalDataAbout Earthgrains
Earthgrains, which had sales of $2.039 billion in fiscal 2000, operates fresh-bakery and refrigerated-dough businesses in the United States and Europe.
Earthgrains is the second-largest producer of fresh packaged bread and baked goods in the United States and with 61 bakeries. Major company-owned brands include Colonial, Rainbo, IronKids, Earth Grains, Grant’s Farm, San Luis Sourdough, Heiner’s, Master, Mother’s, Old Home, and Break Cake. Major franchise brands include Sunbeam, Country Hearth, Roman Meal, D’Italiano, Taystee, Holsum, Healthy Choice, Pillsbury, Mickey, and Sun*Maid.
More information about Earthgrains may be found on the company’s corporate Internet web site at www.earthgrains.com.
