Ocean Spray Cranberries has appointed Nestl\u00e9 executive Abigail Buckwalter as its new president and CEO. <\/p>\n
Buckwalter succeeds Tom Hayes, who announced late last year he was retiring. <\/p>\n
Ocean Spray chairman Peter Dhillon described Buckwalter as “a transformational leader”. <\/p>\n
He added: “She brings both the global business experience needed to drive growth and the instincts to build brands that last. While her track-record of operational excellence and innovation is impressive, what truly set her apart is how she thinks about and enacts people-first leadership every day.” <\/p>\n
Buckwalter spent more than 15 years at Nestl\u00e9, joining the Swiss giant as a marketing manager in New Jersey. <\/p>\n
Prior to joining Ocean Spray, she was the CEO of the US unit of Nestl\u00e9’s health-science arm. <\/p>\n
“Our industry finds itself at an incredibly dynamic tipping point in consumer behavior and buying habits. I believe Ocean Spray, with its iconic brand and global platform, is uniquely positioned to deliver against those expectations around taste and health benefits,” Buckwalter said. <\/p>\n
Hayes, a former Tyson Foods chief executive, joined the cranberry co-op in 2020. <\/p>\n
He took the helm<\/a> five months after the juices and snacks maker terminated the contract of previous head Bobby Chacko for violating an anti-harassment policy<\/a>. <\/p>\n