Campbell Soup Co., Camden, N.J., has announced the retirement of Richard Smith, vice president of business development and industry relations, who leaves after a 37-year career there. He is replaced by Keith Olscamp, who will maintain relations with key customers and industry associations. Olscamp has been with Campbell since 1979.
Hormel Foods Corp., Austin, Minn., announced the retirements of Gary Ray, president of protein business units, and Russell Potter, vice president of operations for the company’s grocery products division, effective Dec. 31. Ray’s career has spanned four decades, and he will remain on the board of directors. Potter had 33 years with the company.
Stephen Van Tassel, who was Kraft’s vice president of marketing for Post Cereal in North America, is staying with Post Foods under its new Ralcorp Holdings ownership. Ralcorp named him a corporate vice president and president of its newly acquired Post Foods business.
With the $52 billion merger of Anheuser-Busch Cos. and InBev SA complete (on Nov. 18), Luiz Fernando Edmond, then zone president Latin America North and AmBev's CEO, became zone president North America of the new company, Anheuser-Busch InBev. Dave Peacock, who was vice president of marketing for Anheuser-Busch and CEO of its Wholesaler Equity Development Corp. subsidiary, became president of Anheuser-Busch.
Donald Binotto, who was head of StarKist when it was part of H.J. Heinz Co. and then Del Monte Food, is back with the brand. He’s the new president and CEO of StarKist, which was sold in November to Dongwon Industries of South Korea.
Sheri Schellhaass, vice president of research and development at General Mills Inc., became the 69th president of the Institute of Food Technologists on Sept. 2. Marianne Gillette, vice president of technical competencies and platforms for McCormick and Co., became president-elect, expected to assume the presidency in September 2009. IFT also named Robert Vitas vice president of the IFT Foundation. He’s a “certified fund raising executive” who has worked in nonprofits and foundations for most of his professional life.
