Following the sale of its Canada Bread business to Grupo Bimbo, Maple Leaf Foods plans to make changes to its organizational structure. As part of the changes, Gary Maksymetz, who has been leading Maple Leaf’s fresh and prepared meats business for the past four years, will succeed Richard Lan as chief operating officer. Debbie Simpson, who has held senior finance roles at the company for the past seven years, will succeed Michael Vels as chief financial officer.
Mr. Lan will serve as chief customer officer until the end of 2014, at which time he will retire from the company. Mr. Vels will remain with the company until the end of the year to lead the separation of the bakery business, the Maple Leaf organizational transition and support the transfer of his responsibilities to Ms. Simpson. He will leave the company at the end of the year.
The company also announced that Scott McCain, chief operating officer of Maple Leaf’s Agribusiness Group, will be retiring at the end of June.
