People Moves: Bolthouse Farms Pres. Retires; Nissin Foods USA Names New CEO
Bolthouse Shares COO Succession Plan
Bolthouse Farms has unveiled its management succession plan following the retirement of president and COO Bill Levisay. Since joining the company as COO in 2009 and being named president in 2019, Levisay has led Bolthouse through the pandemic, oversaw the acquisition of Evolution Fresh from Starbucks and prepared the company for its next chapter.
The announcement, posted to LinkedIn by Levisay, comes as the brand enters its next chapter of growth as two business entities, ag-centric farming business Bolthouse Fresh Foods and CPG-centric beverage and salad dressing business Generous Brands. Looking ahead, Tim Escamilla will run Bolthouse Fresh Foods while Steve Cornell will be at the helm of Generous Brands.
Together, Levisay said in the post, the sister companies will create unique value and drive growth in their respective markets. He added that he is confident Tim and Steve “will have a strong impact in the next chapter of the company’s 100+ year!”
Founded in 1915, California-based Bolthouse Farms produces plant-based milk, juices, protein drinks, salad dressings and baby carrots. In April 2019, the company sold to Los Angeles-based private equity firm Butterfly for $510 million, marking the firm’s first foray into the CPG space.
Looking ahead, Levisay plans to use expertise to advise others about navigating the food and beverage industry.
“While I am ‘retiring’ from Bolthouse Farms, my plan is to pivot my professional path towards opportunities where I can leverage my 35+ year career in board roles, and to act as a ‘trusted advisor to CEOs, foundations and non-profit organizations,” said Levisay in the LinkedIn post.
Nissin Foods USA Appoints Industry Vet as CEO
Nissin Foods USA – the producer of Top Ramen and Cup Noodles – has named Brian Huff president and CEO as the brand seeks to solidify itself as a leader in the instant ramen category. Huff succeeds Mike Price, who retired from the position after serving in the role since 2018.
“The U.S. market continues to be a top priority for Nissin Foods with our products seeing an unprecedented growth in demand,” said Yukio Yokoyama, chief strategy officer of Nissin Foods Group, in a press release. “Huff’s leadership and experience in growing brands across the food and beverage industry brings significant value as we enter this new chapter for Nissin Foods USA.”
A CPG veteran, Huff previously held executive roles at Diamond Foods, Whole Earth Brands and Kellogg’s and has over 33 years of experience in the food and beverage industry. At Kellogg’s, he spent 24 years managing large customers and businesses, including as president of snacks.
In November, Nissin Foods USA announced plans to spend $228 million to expand its presence in the U.S. The investment will go toward developing a new 640,640-square-foot. manufacturing facility in Greenville County, South Carolina, that is expected to be operational in 2025.
“Nissin Foods is a brand that is steeped in rich heritage, and yet it has maintained an entrepreneurial spirit that remains the cornerstone and accelerant behind its relentless innovation that continues to shape the category – then and now,” said Huff in the release. “The future holds great opportunity for Nissin Foods in the U.S.”
Amber Jefferson Joins Hain Celestial as Chief People Officer
As part of its ongoing multi-year transformation plan, the Hain Celestial Group has onboarded Amber Jefferson as its chief people officer. In her new role, Jefferson will oversee the company’s human resources function and provide leadership for the culture and talent strategy supporting Hain’s transformation journey.
“Amber has a strong reputation leading multinational organizations through transformation while driving while driving a performance-based culture,” said Wendy Davidson, Hain Celestial Group CEO, in a statement. “She will be instrumental in designing our people strategy and building a strong pipeline of talent.”
The 30-year-old company began rolling out its transformation strategy, aptly named Hain Reimagined, late last year. Hain Reimagined marks the brand’s second, multi-year transformation since 2018.
The brand’s latest overhaul strategy, unveiled at Hain’s Investor Day in September, focuses growth on its better-for-you Snacks, Baby & Kids and Beverage segments.
During its Q1 2024 earnings call in November, Hain posted a net sales drop of 3.3% (compared to a 2% drop in Q4 2023) as the impact of its Hain Reimagined strategy was being felt, according to Davidson.
