Smucker’s Closes Hostess Acquisition, Announces Leadership, Structural Changes
Following the closing of the acquisition of Hostess Brands, The J.M. Smucker Co. has created a new business unit called “Sweet Baked Snacks” and named Dan O’Leary senior vice president and general manager of Sweet Baked Snacks and Pet, effective immediately.
O’Leary comes over with Hostess, having served as its chief growth officer, overseeing the full family of brands. He brings more than two decades of marketing, brand-building, innovation, M&A and growth strategy experience; he joined Hostess Brands in 2021, and had spent time previously leading Tyson Foods’ retail prepared foods group and also in leadership positions at Kraft Foods and Mizkan America.
The company has also announced other leadership changes in conjunction with the Hostess closing.
The Coffee business unit will house the Folgers, Dunkin’ and Café Bustelo brands and be managed by Rob Ferguson, senior vice president and general manager, Coffee and Procurement.
The former Consumer Foods unit will be renamed Frozen Handheld and Spreads and will include Uncrustables, Jif and Smucker’s brands. It will continue to be run by Rebecca Scheidler, senior vice president and general manager, Frozen Handheld and Spreads.
The Away From Home and International units will house the company’s Canadian business and still be managed by Tim Wayne, senior vice president, Away From Home and International.
The Pet division comprises the dog snacks and cat food businesses, including Milk-Bone and Meow Mix. Sweet Baked Snacks will be composed of the Hostess and Voortman brands. As mentioned above, O’Leary will lead those business units.
Smucker has also decided to align its Strategy, Finance, Transformation and Information Services under the leadership of Tucker Marshall, chief financial officer to better connect its margin-management objectives and multiple planning processes with short- and long-term horizons.
As a result of these changes, several executives will be departing the company, including chief transformation officer Amy Held; Joe Stanziano, senior vice president and general manager, Coffee; and Gagnesh Gupta, senior vice president, Procurement and Commodities, effective February 2, 2024; December 1, 2023; and December 29, 2023, respectively. More information is expected from the company on its structure and leadership changes when it reports its second quarter fiscal 2024 results on December 5, 2023.
