New Heinz Europe boss after executive rejig

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - H. J. Heinz Co. has announced a leadership realignment involving five top senior executives, as part of a process to broaden the capabilities and skills of its top managers. The changes, effective 15 July , include a switch in responsibilities of the two current Heinz executives in charge of the company's North American and European businesses. 

Under the rejig, Dave Moran becomes executive vice president (VP), president and CEO of Heinz Europe after serving as Executive VP, president and CEO of Heinz North America. Moran has led Heinz North America, which achieved record sales and profit in each of the last six years.

Meanwhile, Scott O¹Hara becomes executive VP, president and CEO of Heinz North America after serving in the same roles at Heinz Europe. Under his leadership, Heinz Europe has delivered impressive top- and bottom-line growth on a constant currency basis over the last three years, the company said.

Chris Warmoth will continue in his current role of executive VP, Asia/Pacific, which recently expanded to include the key markets of Australia and New Zealand. Under his leadership, Asia Pacific has delivered double-digit growth and recently completed the important acquisition of Golden Circle in Australia, a transaction that grows the Company¹s business in Australia and New Zealand to almost $1 billion in sales.

Mike Milone is to continue as senior VP, Rest of World, Global Infant Nutrition & Enterprise Risk Management. He also remains responsible for Heinz's Global Enterprise Risk Management and Sustainability initiatives.

"Heinz has an exceptionally strong and deep executive leadership team, as these five executives have demonstrated in leading the company to a year of record sales and profit in Fiscal 2009," said William R. Johnson, Chairman, president and CEO.