The J. M. Smucker Co. announced the formation of a new strategic business area – Sweet Baked Snacks – and the subsequent officer election of Dan O’Leary to senior vice president and general manager, Sweet Baked Snacks and Pet, effective immediately.
O’Leary assumes the new role following his time serving as chief growth officer, Hostess Brands Inc., where he oversaw the full family of brands and drove profitable growth in the competitive snacking market. O’Leary brings more than 20 years of experience across marketing, brand building, innovation, M&A and growth strategy. Before joining Hostess in 2021, O’Leary led Tyson Foods’ retail prepared foods group as senior vice president and general manager and held leadership roles at Kraft Foods and Mizkan America.
The company also announced a series of leadership changes and new strategic business areas overseen by board-elected general managers, all reporting to John Brase, chief operating officer.
Coffee, inclusive of the Folgers, Dunkin’ and Café Bustelo brands, will be managed by Rob Ferguson, senior vice president and general manager, coffee and procurement. In his new role, Ferguson will lead both the coffee business and the company's procurement management across all categories. Ferguson takes on the role following his leadership of the company’s pet business since 2020. Ferguson joined the company in 2015 via the company’s acquisition of Big Heart Pet Brands, where he held leadership roles in strategy, operations, supply chain and procurement, prior to his election as Smucker senior vice president, supply chain.
Frozen handheld and spreads (formerly titled Consumer Foods), inclusive of the Smucker’s Uncrustables, Jif and Smucker’s brands, will continue to be managed by Rebecca Scheidler, senior vice president and general manager, frozen handheld and spreads.
Pet, inclusive of the dog snacks and cat food businesses, anchored by the Milk-Bone and Meow Mix brands, will be managed by Dan O’Leary, senior vice president and general manager, sweet baked snacks and pet.
Sweet baked snacks, inclusive of the Hostess and Voortman brands, which will also be managed by Dan O’Leary, senior vice president and general manager, sweet baked snacks and pet.
Away from home and international, inclusive of the company’s Canadian business, will continue to be managed by Tim Wayne, senior vice president, away from home and international.
The company also announced it will align strategy, finance, transformation and information services under the leadership of Tucker Marshall, chief financial officer. Reporting to Marshall will be Bryan Hutson, senior vice president, information services, transformation and portfolio operations.
Amy Held, chief transformation officer; Joe Stanziano, senior vice president and general manager, coffee; Gagnesh Gupta, senior vice president, procurement and commodities, will transition from the company, effective February 2, 2024; December 1, 2023; and December 29, 2023, respectively. The company thanks these leaders for their many contributions to the organization and their teams.
“We are excited to share this updated strategic business area structure and the leaders who will drive the continued momentum of our leading brands in these growing categories,” Mark Smucker, chair of the board, president and chief executive officer, said in the announcement. “With this newly created structure, we are better positioned to take advantage of synergies, which will allow us to leverage the best-in-class expertise we have in our organization around innovation, marketing, commercial activation and supply chain management.”
