Kai Bockmann Suddenly Retires as COO of Saputo

Kai Bockmann is stepping down "immediately" as president and chief operating officer of Montreal-based cheese and dairy company Saputo Inc. He will officially retire from the company on March 4.

Carl Colizza, president and COO for North America, and Leanne Cutts, president and COO for international and Europe, who reported to Bockmann, will now report to Chairman and CEO Lino A. Saputo, whose father and grandfather started the company.

The announcement was sudden and terse. Mr. Saputo offered two sentences of praise for Bockmann, thanking him "for his dedication and involvement over the last 10 years."