Sam Rovit, executive vice-president of strategy at Kraft Foods Group, has been named executive vice-president and president of the company’s Oscar Mayer business unit. He succeeds Nick Meriggioli, who will leave the company in early 2014.
As Kraft’s head of strategy, Mr. Rovit helped lead the separation of the former Kraft Foods Inc. into two standalone, public companies — Kraft Foods Group and Mondelēz International. After the launch of the new Kraft in October 2012, he added the Planters nuts business to a portfolio of responsibilities that included strategy, corporate development, information systems and business process excellence. Under his leadership, Planters transformed its business model, which led to brand share growth for the first time in nearly two years, Kraft said.
“Sam is an accomplished strategist with c.e.o. experience in the meat industry,” said Tony Vernon, chief executive officer of Kraft. “He is a transformational thinker who has a unique ability to look at every aspect of the business, ask the hard questions and bring something new to the table. Sam is a great choice to lead Oscar Mayer into the future.”
Mr. Rovit joined Kraft in 2011 from Bain & Co., where he was a senior partner. During his 20-year tenure at Bain, he led several of the firm’s practice areas, including global mergers and acquisitions, corporate renewal and turnarounds, and agribusiness. He also spent two years as president and c.e.o. of Swift & Co., one of the world’s largest processors of beef and pork products.
Kraft said Mr. Rovit will continue to oversee the strategy function while the company conducts a search for its next executive vice-president of strategy.
As Kraft’s head of strategy, Mr. Rovit helped lead the separation of the former Kraft Foods Inc. into two standalone, public companies — Kraft Foods Group and Mondelēz International. After the launch of the new Kraft in October 2012, he added the Planters nuts business to a portfolio of responsibilities that included strategy, corporate development, information systems and business process excellence. Under his leadership, Planters transformed its business model, which led to brand share growth for the first time in nearly two years, Kraft said.
“Sam is an accomplished strategist with c.e.o. experience in the meat industry,” said Tony Vernon, chief executive officer of Kraft. “He is a transformational thinker who has a unique ability to look at every aspect of the business, ask the hard questions and bring something new to the table. Sam is a great choice to lead Oscar Mayer into the future.”
Mr. Rovit joined Kraft in 2011 from Bain & Co., where he was a senior partner. During his 20-year tenure at Bain, he led several of the firm’s practice areas, including global mergers and acquisitions, corporate renewal and turnarounds, and agribusiness. He also spent two years as president and c.e.o. of Swift & Co., one of the world’s largest processors of beef and pork products.
Kraft said Mr. Rovit will continue to oversee the strategy function while the company conducts a search for its next executive vice-president of strategy.
