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.

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.