Ocean Spray appoints new president and CEO
Talking Points
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. has appointed Abigail Buckwalter as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Buckwalter brings 20 years of leadership experience from various sectors, including her recent role as CEO at Nestlé Health Science U.S., where she managed over 6,000 employees.
- Buckwalter has held multiple roles across Europe, Oceania, and North America during her 15 years at Nestlé.
- Peter P. Dhillon, chairman of the board, praised her as a transformational leader with essential global business experience.
- Buckwalter emphasized Ocean Spray’s unique position to meet evolving consumer expectations regarding taste and health benefits.
This leadership change is significant for Ocean Spray as it seeks to adapt to shifting consumer behaviours in the food and beverage industry.
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. appoints Abigail Buckwalter as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
Buckwalter brings 20 years of leadership experience across consumer-packaged goods and healthcare. She comes to Ocean Spray from Nestlé Health Science U.S., where she worked since its inception 15 years ago in multiple roles across Europe, Oceania, and North America. She led the organization of more than 6,000 people for the past three years as CEO.
“Abigail is a transformational leader, and we are thrilled to welcome her to Ocean Spray. She brings both the global business experience needed to drive growth and the instincts to build brands that last,” said Peter P. Dhillon, chairman of the board.
Prior to joining Nestlé, she spent time in roles across the consumer-packaged goods, healthcare, non-profit, and food service sectors.
“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,” said Buckwalter. “In my two decades working in consumer-packaged goods, I’ve learned what’s possible when consumer obsession and operational excellence come together. That is what we will strive for, every day, here at Ocean Spray.”
She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from Columbia University in New York.
Source: www.foodincanada.com