Just two weeks after Mars Inc. took control of Chicago’s Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., the company named longtime Wrigley insider Dushan (Duke) Petrovich president.
He replaces William Perez, who will get paid more than $25 million in severance and will serve in an advisory capacity through the end of the year. In 2006, Perez became the first person outside the Wrigley family to be president and CEO of the 116-year-old company.
Petrovich is a Chicago native who began his career in the Wrigley finance department 30 years ago and later served as vice president, corporate controller and vice president/corporate treasurer. His most recent role was senior vice president and chief administrative officer.
Petrovich will continue to work with Wrigley Chairman Bill Wrigley Jr., and both will report to Mars President and CEO Paul Michaels.
