The Food Institute reported 25 executive changes at food companies in New Jersey through the first three quarters of 2019 — up 25% from a year earlier and on par with the entire nation for which 602 changes were tallied by the Upper Saddle River-based information and research firm, 29% more than the same period of 2018.
In New Jersey this year, four companies announced new CEOs: B&G Foods, Newell Brands, Cholula Food Co. and Reckitt Benckiser Group. Of those new CEOs, only one was a woman, Cholula’s Maura Mottolese, who took over the reins in June and whose prior positions included CEO at Tate’s Bake Shop, which was acquired by Mondelez. A year ago, only two New Jersey-based CEOs were announced, including one woman, the Vitamin Shoppe Inc.’s Sharon Leite.
Nationwide, the Food Institute reported 71 changes in CEOs at various food companies, including seven women. Thus, New Jersey accounted for more than a quarter of the nation’s new female food industry CEOs during the Jan. 1-Sept. 30 period.
Of the 25 C-suite changes in New Jersey food companies, the bulk came from the manufacturing sector, where 16 new C-level changes were announced, followed by seven at retailers and two at food service companies.
For more information about accessing the Food Institute data, contact brian.todd@foodinstitute.com or go to www.foodinstitute.com/joinfi.
Brian Todd is president of the Food Institute.
