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Wrigley names Mary Kay Haben as group vice president, managing director of North America

FoodProcessing.com
03/15/2007

The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company named Mary Kay Haben as group vice president and managing director, North America. Haben will report to Bill Perez, president and CEO and will lead the growth and development of Wrigley's U.S. and Canadian businesses, effective April 16, 2007. In this role, she will also join Wrigley's executive leadership team.

Haben brings to Wrigley extensive experience in global management after a 27-year-career at Kraft Foods Inc., where she most recently served as senior vice president, Open Innovation, leading the company's new innovation processes targeted at bringing outside ideas into the company and driving innovation culture change globally.

She has served in various executive positions at Kraft since 1979, including senior vice president, Global Convenience Meals, Grocery and Snacks Sectors from 2004 until 2006; group vice president and president, Cheese, Enhancers and Meals from 2001 until 2004; group vice president and president, Kraft Cheese, Mexico and Puerto Rico from 2000 until 2001; and executive vice president and president, Kraft Cheese Division from 1998 until 2000.

"Mary Kay has a proven track record for successfully managing fast-moving consumer goods businesses, growing existing brands and developing new product and packaging innovations," said Perez. "I am confident that her strong skill set, strategic insights and global perspective will help us further drive our North American confectionery business."

Haben serves on the board of directors of Liz Claiborne, Inc. and the board of directors and the executive committee of Junior Achievement, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping children succeed in the business world. She also serves on the visiting committee of the University of Michigan Business School and as chair of the board of directors of the University of Illinois Alumni Association.