People Moves: Vermont Smoke & Cure CEO to Lead Bee’s Wraps; Clif Adds New Execs

Tara Murphy Departing Vermont Smoke & Cure to Head Bee’s Wraps

Vermont Smoke & Cure CEO Tara Murphy has announced she will depart the meat snack maker to lead Vermont-based sustainable food storage brand Bee’s Wraps, effective June 1. Murphy’s successor has yet to be named.

Murphy joined Vermont Smoke & Cure as president in 2016 before her promotion to CEO in 2017. The meat snack brand, which was backed by investment firm VMG in 2015, was subsequently sold to sausage company Johnsonville LLC in September, and is now operating as a subsidiary. While Murphy said Johnsonville is a “fantastic company” that has helped the brand grow, she said continuing in her role would eventually require moving from Vermont to Johnsonville’s headquarters in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin.

“As much as [Wisconsin] is a beautiful state, I just love Vermont,” she said. “I wanted to take this opportunity to lead another entrepreneurial, amazing sustainable Vermont brand while I had the opportunity.”

Murphy will assume the position of CEO at Bee’s Wrap from founder Sarah Kaeck. Having founded the natural plastic wrap alternative company in 2012, Kaeck had agreed to stay on as CEO during a transitional period following Bee’s Wraps acquisition by Boston-based private equity firm Champlain Capital in February.

“I’m so excited to take Bee’s Wrap to the next level,” Murphy said. “It’s so on trend and so on the leading edge of where I think things are moving in terms of people thinking about single-use plastic.”

Over the past five years with Vermont Smoke & Cure, Murphy said she’s seen significant change in the meat snack category. While a decade ago jerky was the “Doritos of meat,” made with heavy flavoring and salt, she said the brand’s move toward clean ingredients, changes in texture and new form factors over the years have made the category more approachable and ultimately brought in additional consumers.

“I think that change in texture, taking the meat stick to something that’s just so much more palatable, I think that enabled so many more consumers, women and their children to want to engage in the category of the meat stick,” she said. “It’s just been great to see how we’ve had a lot of competition really follow. And the category has grown tremendously.”

Clif Names Three New Executives

Energy food maker Clif Bar & Company last week announced three new appointments to its executive team, all reporting to CEO Sally Grimes, who joined the company last year.

Shaunte Mears-Watkins, formerly VP of strategy at The Clorox Company, will serve as Clif’s chief commercial officer. Roma McCaig will assume the role of SVP of impact and communications, coming to the company from Campbell Soup Company, where she served as VP of corporate responsibility and sustainability. Hari Avula joins as Clif’s new chief financial and strategy officer, having formerly held senior finance and strategy leadership positions at PepsiCo and Walgreens Boots Alliance.

The new hires follow the company’s announcement in February that it would lay off 125 employees as part of a restructuring plan that also included the hiring of chief innovation officer Rizal Hamdallah and EVP of applied technology and insights Jennifer Bentz.

According to a press release, the new additions are aimed at driving the company’s next stage of “purpose-driven” growth, which includes a new “Let’s Move the World” ad campaign announced in tandem with the new hires as well as a wave of new product launches.

“Clif Bar has bold goals for the future, with the intention to double our business and double our positive impact on the world,” Grimes said in a press release. “We are thrilled to welcome these exceptional leaders to our executive team, as their world-class talent and experience will help fuel the growth for our ambitious vision.”

Lincoln International Names Jeff Cleveland Managing Director

Investment bank and financial services company Lincoln International has named Jeff Cleveland as its new managing director, where he will focus on leading the firm’s Global Consumer Group’s work in the food and beverage segments.

Over the past 15 years, Cleveland has held a number of positions advising companies across the food value chain. He most recently served as managing director of D.A. Davidson Companies, establishing the firm’s food, beverage and agriculture investment segment, and has also held director positions in the food and beverage sector at Zachary Scott and Harris Williams & Co.

Chris Stradling, managing director and co-head of Lincoln’s Consumer Group, said the addition of Cleveland will help “strengthen [the company’s] offering in the food and beverage sector.”

“The food and beverage market is both dynamic and growing, driven by a variety of demographic trends and shifting consumer expectations,” he said. “We are looking forward to Jeff’s leadership in supporting clients who want to capitalize on momentum in the sector.”

Other People Moves Include:

• Andy Berliner will be resuming his role as CEO of Amy’s, replacing Xavier Unkovic, who will be joining cosmetics company NAOS as CEO on July 1. Unkovic joined Amy’s as president in 2017 before assuming the CEO role in June 2020.
• Christopher Davila has joined Milk Bar as director of commercialization as the bakery brand continues to make a push into grocery. Davila was formerly innovation program manager at Whole Foods.
• Paul Nardone joined HIPPEAS as CEO, with founder Livio Bisterzo transitioning to executive chairman. Nardone was previously CEO of BFY Brands, maker of PopCorners, which was acquired by PepsiCo in December 2019.