Kraft Heinz names Pedro Navio president of North American operations

Dive Brief:

• Kraft Heinz announced that Pedro Navio will become president of its North American business. He will take over from Carlos Abrams-Rivera who will become CEO of the Jell-O and Kool-Aid manufacturer in January.
• Navio, who has been with Kraft Heinz since 2017, is currently its president of taste, meals and away from home in North America. Before Kraft Heinz, he spent more than 15 years at energy drink maker Red Bull.
• The change in leadership occurs as Kraft Heinz increases innovation and expands its portfolio of iconic brands, while consumers limit purchases due to inflation.

Dive Insight:

As Kraft Heinz reorganizes its executive ranks, the CPG giant is continuing the trend of promoting from within. And the selection of Navio to head its business in North America, responsible for nearly 75% of its $6.6 billion in net sales in the most recent quarter, fits squarely with that strategy.

Navio is no stranger to Kraft Heinz, having been with the company for six years where he has worked directly with the key brands that will make up the lion’s share of his responsibility in his new role.

During this time, he has not only received a first-hand look into Kraft Heinz’s business and its portfolio but the strategy the company is using to grow sales. As Abrams-Rivera’s recent promotion to the CEO post has shown, the role Navio will be taking on is hugely important within the company and a potential springboard to the top job in the future.    

The consumer goods veteran also will be ideally positioned to tap into his extensive experience in the CPG space, having spent the last two decades immersed in the category with Kraft Heinz and before that Red Bull. He no doubt has a firm grasp on trends within the space, including challenges companies are facing and ongoing changes in consumer habits, which will be front and center when he takes on his new role.