Ingredion Incorporated, a leading global provider of ingredient solutions to diversified industries, today announced the establishment of a new executive leadership role focused on commercial excellence that will align related functions to deliver an exceptional customer experience and drive growth.
Larry Fernandes has been promoted to senior vice president and chief commercial officer, effective March 1, 2018. Now president and general director, Mexico, Fernandes will have executive oversight for Ingredion’s global key account program and corporate marketing function, as well as a newly established global role focused on the customer experience. He will become a member of the executive leadership team and is expected to be elected by the board of directors at its February meeting.
Fernandes joined the company in 1990 as a technical sales representative in Canada. He since has held several positions of increasing responsibility in the sales and commercial areas in the United States and Canada, including vice president and general manager for the U.S./Canada business. He was appointed general manager for Mexico in 2013. Fernandes holds a degree in chemical engineering with a minor in accounting from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
Rob Ritchie will be succeeding Fernandes in Mexico as president and general director on March 1. Ritchie, currently vice president, commercial, U.S./Canada, will have full management responsibility for all aspects of business operations in Mexico.
Ritchie has been with Ingredion for more than 20 years, starting his career in Canada as an area director. He has since held roles of increasing responsibility within the U.S./Canada sales organization. Ritchie holds a master’s degree in business administration from Loyola University in Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Lakehead University, Ontario, Canada.
“Larry will be an outstanding addition to our executive team and is ideally suited to shape and drive the newly established commercial excellence function. Larry possesses excellent commercial instincts and business acumen, and he understands the importance of Ingredion’s go-to-market function to create and deliver value for customers. I am confident that under Larry’s leadership, Ingredion’s delivery of outstanding products and services to customers will only be enhanced.
“Equally Rob is well prepared to lead Ingredion’s Mexican business. He has a deep understanding of both our core and specialties businesses and has played a key role in growing Ingredion’s U.S. and Canada businesses over the last four years. I expect a seamless transition as Rob assumes his new role,” said Jim Zallie, Ingredion CEO.
Source: Ingredion
Consumer behaviors and preferences are evolving rapidly. With macro shifts in society, inflation and food supply challenges set to profoundly influence how people consume food and beverages, Givaudan is exploring what the world of dairy alternatives will look like in the coming decade.
After nearly three decades with AFI, Andersen is leaving to pursue a different career path “to work on diverse projects and explore opportunities to serve as board member”. Serving as CEO since 2010, Andersen joined AFI in 1994, initially overseeing applications and R&D. Over the years, he has maintained a strong focus on the whey business.
The Kraft Heinz Company has introduced five new members to its executive leadership team, who will collaborate with Carlos Abrams-Rivera upon assuming the CEO role in 2024. Pedro Navio will assume the position of North America president at the beginning of next year. In addition, Willem Brandt, Bruno Keller, Cory Onell and Diana Frost will join Abrams-Rivera and Navio on the executive leadership team.
