People on the Move: Atlas Oil, PFSbrands, Mondelēz, Spinx & Topps

NATIONAL REPORT — Retailers, wholesalers and suppliers in the convenience store industry are only as good as their management teams and employees. In this special roundup, Convenience Store News runs down the most recent executive changes at the top in the industry.

Advanced Digital Data Inc.

Advanced Digital Data Inc. (ADD Systems) hired Tracie Nall as regional sales representative. Nall's role within the sales team will focus on the convenience store and wholesale petroleum industries. She will be responsible for the further market penetration of ADD eStore and Atlas Advanced BI products in those industries.

Nall brings more than 20 years of convenience store industry experience to the position. According to the company, she has been able to leverage her prior convenience store experience working for WilcoHess LLC to successfully transition to the world of back-office software sales with The Pinnacle Corp. where she most recently held the role of vice president of business development.

ADD Systems also expanded its marketing department with the addition of Brittany Cooper and Victoria Leyson. Cooper is a full-time marketing associate, while Leyson is a full-time marketing intern.

Atlas Oil Co.

Atlas Oil Co. promoted several Atlas team as the company continues to grow across its business segments, including an impressive product and service expansion.

"Atlas' commitment to fueling innovation is possible, in part, because of the momentum created by these outstanding team members," said Atlas President Robert Kenyon. "Through these promotions, we are able to continue to offer outstanding omnichannel value to our existing and potential client bases."

The following individuals were promoted:

• Mike Meredith: president — Frac and Rig Fueling Division
• Rick Shock: vice president of Fuel Automation Station and Fleet Services
• Clint Werth: vice president of Supply and Logistics
• Jeff Hunter: director of marketing
• Gerry King: corporate director of EHS, Risk and Human Resources
• Jayme Oyen: director of Emergency Fuel Services
• Garret Walther: regional vice president of Operations — Rockies Region
• James Honeycutt: regional vice president of Operations — South Region
• Sam Barbatano: regional sales manager
• Todd Kremers: regional supply manager
• Shawn Kern: Fuel Automation Station Production lead
• Joe Snyder: business development — Fueling Innovation

 

Mondelēz International

Mondelēz International's board of directors unanimously selected Dirk Van de Put, current president and CEO of McCain Foods, to succeed Irene Rosenfeld as CEO of Mondelēz International, as she steps down effective November.

Van de Put will also join the company's board of directors. Rosenfeld will continue as chairman of the board until March 31, at which point she will retire and Van de Put will assume the role of chairman and CEO.

Van de Put brings nearly 30 years of experience in the food and consumer package industry to this new leadership role. During his six-year tenure as CEO of McCain Foods, he grew net sales by more than 50 percent, generating more than 75 percent of that growth organically, with EBITDA growing double digits each of the last six years.

Prior to joining McCain, Van de Put held executive positions with Novartis, Groupe Danone, The Coca-Cola Co. and Mars Inc.

PFSbrands

PFSbrands has filled two new positions: vice president of project management and national director of store planning and design.

Jim Spratt is taking title to vice president of project management, bringing 10 years of experience to the position. His primary role will be to continuously improve the store opening processes for the company's prepared food programs.

Sean Dolan, a certified store designer, is taking the position of national director of store planning and design. Dolan's department provides planning services and AutoCAD designs for the retail partners' new commercial kitchens and serving areas.

Protein2o

Making personnel moves to support the company's next phase growth, Protein2o hired Andy Horrow as president. Horrow will work closely with CEO and Founder Bob Kral to focus on building the brand's national sales and marketing plans to expand Protein2o's strong roots in the central United States.

A 20-year beverage-marketing executive, Horrow spent 13 years at PepsiCo, including as chief marketing officer of Tropicana juices, where he led the brand to its successful launch of Trop 50. Following PepsiCo, Horrow was chief marketing officer of Mike's Hard Lemonade. Most recently, Horrow was a founding partner in Wholesome Tea.

Also joining Protein 2o as chairwoman of the board of directors is Sue Wellington, the former president of Gatorade. Wellington led the brand from $250 million to $4 billion of revenue during her 15-year stint. Since retiring, Wellington has served on the board of CDW and The Women's Sports Foundation.

Russell Stover Chocolates

Russell Stover Chocolates appointed Andrew Deister as president and CEO, effective July 17. Deister replaced Andreas Pfluger who has the overall responsibility for the NAFTA region within the Lindt & Sprüngli Group Management and who had acted as CEO and president for Russell Stover since the acquisition by Lindt & Sprüngli in 2014.

Pfluger remains in his role as overall responsible of the NAFTA region and will focus on coordinating all North American companies: Lindt in North America, Ghirardelli Chocolate Co. and Russell Stover Chocolates.

Deister joins Russell Stover from Robert Rothschild Farm, a specialty foods organization where he served as president and CEO. His priority is to continue to build the Russell Stover brand by leveraging its position as a leading manufacturer of boxed chocolates while expanding its presence with innovative offerings in the marketplace.

Prior to joining Robert Rothschild Farm, Deister held leadership roles in marketing, sales and innovation with large global consumer packaged goods organizations including Procter & Gamble, Abbott Nutrition and Evenflo.

The Spinx Co.

The Spinx Co. hired Beth Thomason as its director of Marketing and Advertising. In this role, Thomason will oversee all branding, advertising, public relations and special events the retailer.

Thomason's career spans more than 20 years, and she most recently operated Thomason PR, an independent public relations and marketing firm providing strategic consulting services to local companies and non-profit organizations. Thomason earned the accredited public relations professional designation in 2002, and she serves on the board of the South Carolina Public Relations Society of America.

The Topps Co. Inc.

The Topps Co. Inc., promoted Deniz Gezgin to vice president, general manager of digital. In his new role, Gezgin will lead the Digital Apps division, focusing on growing the company's footprint while driving revenue and profitability. He will continue to report to Michael Brandstaedter, president and CEO of Topps.

Prior to the promotion, Gezgin served as director of user acquisition and marketing for Topps Digital since March 2016. Before joining Topps, he was studio lead at FunPlus where he built and expanded the San Francisco studio as well as oversaw product development, performance marketing and business intelligence. His early career includes positions with Zynga's Casino Games division, Machine Zone and Idle Games.

Wenzel's Farm

Wenzel's Farm promoted Lane Nelson to national sales manager. Nelson joined Wenzel's Farm in August 2015. Nelson has 20-plus years of consumer goods sales experience and more than 10 years of sales management experience at both the regional and national level. He will help Wenzel's Farm grow its distribution footprint beyond the Upper Midwest.