SunOpta Inc., a leading global company focused on organic, non-genetically modified and specialty foods, today announced the appointment of Rik Jacobs to President and Chief Executive Officer effective October 1, 2015. In conjunction with this appointment, Jacobs will also become a member of the Board of Directors.
Jacobs will succeed SunOpta’s current CEO Steve Bromley, who will assume the role of Vice Chair effective October 1, 2015. Bromley will complete the transition in leadership and support Jacobs and the Board on key corporate development activities until the end of 2015.
Bromley joined the organization in 2001 and has led SunOpta as CEO since 2007. During that time SunOpta has built competitive advantage in growing segments, while disposing of non-core assets and repositioning the business. The CEO transition reflects a key moment in SunOpta’s continued transformation as it increasingly focuses on execution and accelerated performance now that the strategic foundation has been established.
Jacobs has been a key architect of SunOpta’s strategic foundation, working closely with Bromley, and he has been a driving force behind the transformational efforts focused on leveraging core assets within the company’s global operating platform. He has extensive international food industry experience in general management, sales, strategy and marketing with Tetra Pak, PepsiCo, Royal Dutch Ahold and the Coca-Cola Company.
“The time for succession is right as our focus increasingly turns to execution and accelerated performance,” said Alan Murray, Chair of SunOpta Inc. “Rik is a dynamic leader who has done an incredible job transforming the structure, talent and processes necessary to support SunOpta’s solid strategic foundation. He has tremendous global food industry expertise, knows SunOpta deeply, and is a leader who we are confident will accelerate growth and performance.”
“We are indebted to Steve for his long-standing commitment to SunOpta and for his strong leadership,” Murray added. “He has created the strategic foundation in place today and he has made great strides in repositioning the business and SunOpta’s core assets in growing segments and categories.”
“I believe SunOpta has tremendous competitive advantages that come from our integrated, global operating platform,” said Jacobs. “We are well positioned in growth categories driven by consumer trends, and we have a great opportunity to leverage our strengths and accelerate stakeholder value. I am very excited to lead this organization and our team at such a pivotal moment in our ongoing transformation.”
“I am proud of what we have accomplished at SunOpta, including refocusing our business on core growing segments, disposing of non-core assets, and creating competitive advantage through our global operating platform,” Bromley said. “As our focus increasingly shifts to executing against our strategic foundation, the timing is right to transition to Rik’s leadership, and I am looking forward to supporting him and the Board in that transition and on continued corporate development activity as the year unfolds.”
Source: SunOpta
