Chobani Names New President, Sees Other Exec Changes

After announcing last week the departure of longtime president and COO Peter McGuinness, Chobani is actively reconstructing its leadership team, starting with the reappointment of former executive Kevin Burns as president and COO.

During his first tenure with Chobani from 2014 through 2016, Burns was credited with helping turn around the then-struggling company, which was struggling in the wake of a recall in 2013. He returns to the Greek yogurt maker under different circumstances, ahead of a long-gestating IPO and shortly after McGuinness exited to take over as CEO at Impossible Foods earlier this month.

“To help guide us into this next chapter, we will welcome back an old friend as our president and chief operating officer – Kevin Burns,” Ulukaya wrote in the memo shared with NOSH. “Many of you will remember Kevin served as our President once before, from 2014-2016. That was another time of change and opportunity for Chobani – and we came out all the better for it.”

In last week’s email Ulukaya noted that he will remain as CEO, with Burns reporting directly to him, and “remain heavily involved in the business.” Burns will oversee the company’s supply chain, innovation, finance, IT, marketing, Australian sales and operations departments.

A former partner at TPG Capital, Burns first joined Chobani as part of a 2014 deal between TPG and Chobani, which saw the private equity firm loan the yogurt producer $750 million. For the first year of his tenure, Burns held double duty with roles at both TPG and Chobani. During his time at Chobani, Burns helped the company reduce waste, trim expenses and resolve efficiency issues with its production processes.

After leaving Chobani in 2016, Burns went on to serve as CEO of electronic cigarette company JUUL and, most recently, president/COO and then CEO of online pharmacy Alto Pharmacy.

“It’s rare to have a consumer packaged goods company growing at the torrid rates Chobani enjoys, and I believe the company has just begun its transformation and category expansion that will fuel its growth over the coming years,” Burns stated in the email. “I’m excited to come home and rejoin the Chobani team as we reshape the way food is made and consumed and be a new model for how a next-generation company should operate through a culture of doing well by being good.”

Following Burn’s departure, McGuinness was elevated in 2017 from the role of chief marketing and commercial officer and then president, adding the title of COO in 2020. Under his leadership the company expanded rapidly, launching new products in categories including coffee, milk, creamers, plant-based yogurt, functional beverages and nut butters.

Chobani had planned to go public this year, but has pushed that back citing “market conditions.” The company appears to still be planning for the IPO, with Ulukay stating in his email that the company will be “continu[ing] our journey to being a public company.”

Along with McGuinness’ departure, chief corporate affairs officer Cristina Alesci, chief people officer Grace Zuncic and chief strategy officer Michelle Brooks also were reported by the Wall Street Journal to have left Chobani.

In Ulukaya’s memo to employees, he confirmed Zunic’s departure, calling her “my dear friends and the biggest supporter and best example of our Chobani culture. The company plans to hire a replacement for Zuncic following her departure on April 8th; until then Carole Sizemore, VP of total rewards, and Jami Secchi, VP of talent acquisition, will co-lead the company’s “people team.”

Ulukaya also made note of the pending departure of Federico (Fed) Muyshondt, Chobani’s chief commercial officer, whose last day is also April 8. The CEO noted that Muyshondt was “offered a position he couldn’t refuse” and “wished him nothing but good in his next chapter.”

It appears as if many of the executive team’s responsibilities — particularly around innovation, operations and media relations — are being divided up rather than falling to Burns, a chief corporate affairs officer, or a chief strategy officer.

“[Kevin] will be backed by a strong executive leadership team. Yes, there are many changes there too, but each team within Chobani is poised for success,” Ulukaya wrote. “Our leaders are 100 percent committed, as they’ve always been, to both preserving ‘the Chobani way,’ and taking our business to the next level.”

In addition the email also detailed several other promotions, role changes and departures, notably:

• Nishant Roy, who also is a board member for coffee company La Colombe, has been promoted from Ulukaya’s chief of staff to Chobani’s chief of strategic operations.
• SVP of national account sales Sean Blackwell, who joined the company roughly at the same time as Burns, will now serve as chief customer officer.
• Twelve-year Chobani veteran Meredith Madden will move from SVP, marketing, creative & insights at Chobani to chief marketing and category officer.
• Kathy Leo, chief legal officer and general counsel will also lead Chobani’s environmental, social and governance initiatives.
• Mark Broadhurst, who was the company’s VP of corporate affairs and Sr. director of government relations, was promoted to the role of VP of impact and advisory.
• Head of investor relations Jay Koval will also lead the Treasury team and oversee the company’s media relations team.
• VP of finance Bryan Dockter will see his role expand to include corporate development and strategy.