With the departure of company CEO Mark Clouse, who is leaving to become president of the National Football League’s Washington Commanders, and subsequent promotion of Mick Beekhuizen to fill Clouse’s role, The Campbell’s Co. was in search of a new leader for its Meals & Beverages unit.
The company has announced that Risa Cretella will take over as executive vice president and president, Meals & Beverages, effective Feb. 1, 2025. Cretella will report to Beekhuizen and become a corporate officer and member of the company’s operating committee.
Cretella joined Campbell’s with the Sovos Brands Inc. acquisition as senior vice president and general manager of Distinctive Brands, a business unit within Meals & Beverages. Her new role will give her oversight of brands such as Campbell’s, Chunky, Pace, Pacific Foods, Prego, Rao’s, Swanson and V8 in North American retail and foodservice channels.
Cretella has nearly 25 years of experience in the food industry in general management, marketing and sales. She was executive vice president, general manager of the Rao’s brand for six years, and had taken on the role of chief sales officer for Sovos just a year prior to the company’s acquisition by Campbell’s. Prior to her time with Sovos, she served in various marketing and sales roles for Pinnacle Foods and The J.M. Smucker Co.
