Steve Cahillane, the former CEO of Kellogg, has been announced as the CEO of Kraft Heinz – as the company separates into two independent companies. Current CEO Carlos Abrams-Rivera will step down on January 1 and serve as an advisor until March 6.
“I am honoured to be joining Kraft Heinz as CEO at such a pivotal and exciting time,” said Cahillane.
“I’ve devoted my entire career to building brands, and the opportunity to do the same with Kraft Heinz’s iconic portfolio is a dream come true.
“I’m confident the planned separation will accelerate the company’s ability to compete and win in today’s environment and unlock the immense opportunity in front of us.”
Cahillane will also join the company’s board of directors and serve as CEO of Global Taste Elevation, one of the two independent, publicly traded companies.
“Steve is uniquely qualified to lead this organization into the future, and we are delighted he will be taking on the role of CEO,” Miguel Patricio, chair of the board at Kraft Heinz, said.
“His track record and experience in the industry are unparalleled and will be invaluable as we embark on this next chapter.”
Cahillane holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Northwestern University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard University.
He also serves on the Northwestern University board of trustees, the Smithsonian national board, and the Colgate-Palmolive board of directors.
John T Cahill, vice chair of the board at Kraft Heinz, expressed the company’s gratitude for former CEO Rivera’s tenure.
