Kellanova Adjusts Leadership as Hood Set to Retire
Kellanova’s North America president, Chris Hood, will retire at the end of April. Nicolas Amaya, president of Kellanova Latin America, will succeed Hood as president of Kellanova North America.
Victor Marroquin, general manager of Kellanova Mexico, will succeed Amaya as president of Kellanova Latin America. Both region leaders will report to Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Cahillane. Transitions begin immediately.
“A seasoned consumer packaged goods leader, Chris joined our company as part of the Pringles acquisition in 2012 and has contributed tremendously during his tenure,” Cahillane said. “Over the past nearly six years in his role leading North America, Chris created an agile, category-led business model, driving better performance and unlocking innovation, while guiding the North America organization through major business and portfolio realignments, including the successful exit from direct-store delivery, the divestiture of non-core brands, and the recent spin-off of WK Kellogg Co. We wish Chris and his family all the best and extend our deepest appreciation for his contributions.”
Hood’s retirement prompts orderly successions by Amaya and Marroquin, both of whom have distinguished themselves as highly effective business leaders.
“In Nicolas and Victor, we have proven leaders who are committed to delivering on our Differentiate, Drive & Deliver strategy, developing talent and advancing our purpose,” Cahillane said. “These appointments demonstrate the strong caliber of our people and talent pipeline.”
Over the past four years in his role as President, Kellanova Latin America, Amaya has led the team to deliver robust and consistent top- and bottom-line growth and build strong relationships with key customers and distributors across the region. He has also been at the forefront of digital transformation.
“Nico is a visionary leader who has a strong track record of developing high-performing teams and delivering outsized growth in both Latin America and North America,” Cahillane said. “He has the successful track record and Kellanova experience to continue to drive our business forward as the new leader of our largest region.”
Since joining the company in 2001, Amaya has held a variety of leadership positions in both the United States and Latin America across the cereal, frozen and snacks businesses including general manager, snacks and growth platforms for Latin America; general manager, category marketing and innovation, Latin America; and general manager, Mexico, before being named president, Kellogg Latin America in 2019. Prior to Kellogg, Amaya held various marketing roles at Unilever.
Marroquin joined Kellogg in 1997 in sales, and then held progressive roles in marketing, customer development and commercial management. Since 2014, he has served as general manager in several roles across Latin America leading countries such as Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Colombia and the Andean region, and then was named general manager, Mexico in 2020. In these roles, Marroquin has consistently led the team to deliver strong top- and bottom-line performance, strengthen the brands’ market positions, transform our go-to-market models and elevate key customers´ strategic partnerships.
“Victor has experience in every key market of the Latin America business,” Cahillane said. “He is well respected and well known throughout the region – both within Kellanova and the industry. He has sustained growth momentum in Mexico despite political, economic and regulatory challenges, and accelerated delivery of our Differentiate, Drive & Deliver strategy.”
Kellanova is a leader in global snacking, international cereal and noodles, and North America frozen foods, with a legacy stretching back more than 100 years. Powered by differentiated brands including Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Treats, RXBAR, Eggo, MorningStar Farms, Special K, Coco Pops and more, Kellanova’s vision is to become the world’s best-performing snacks-led powerhouse, unleashing the full potential of our differentiated brands and our passionate people.
Kellanova is guided by our purpose to create better days and a place at the table for everyone through our trusted food brands. We are advancing sustainable and equitable access to food by addressing the intersection of hunger, sustainability, wellbeing, and equity, diversity & inclusion, with the ambition of creating Better Days for 4 billion people by the end of 2030 (from a 2015 baseline). Visit www.Kellanova.com for more information.
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Catalina Crunch Taps Behrens as CEO, Co-Founder Warady Leaves
Catalina Crunch, the pioneering brand in healthier snacks, has appointed Doug Behrens as chief executive officer. Behrens will be responsible for bringing Catalina Crunch into its next phase of growth and expanding the brand’s retail footprint at a time when the company’s demand is at an all-time high. This announcement builds on Catalina Crunch’s recent growth as the company continues to make ongoing investment in hiring the best talent to join the executive team.
“I am thrilled to welcome Doug Behrens to the Catalina Crunch team. Hiring him is instrumental to get us to the next level as our needs as a company have changed. We are very excited about the future and look forward to building on the success that has defined the brand to date,” said Krishna Kaliannan, Catalina Crunch’s founder.
“I’ve been very impressed with the explosive growth of Catalina Crunch and excited to join the team for the next chapter. The better-for-you food and snacking space is incredibly dynamic and Catalina is well positioned to be a disruptive leader,” Behrens said.
Behrens brings a wealth of experience in the food and health space coupled with a proven track record of driving growth and innovation. He has held leadership positions at Johnson & Johnson, Danone, Amplify Snack Brands and most recently served as the president and chief customer officer for KIND. His strategic vision aligns seamlessly with Catalina Crunch’s commitment to providing wholesome, delicious, and innovative products to our valued customers.
Kaliannan remains very involved in the day to day operations of the business as founder while Joel Warady, president of Catalina Crunch, will transition to another opportunity after an impressive tenure under which the company experienced significant growth. The transition is seen as a positive step forward, reinforcing the company’s dedication to continuous improvement and sustained growth.
This important announcement follows the recent launch of the brand’s newest product, Dark Chocolate Cookie Bars and its exciting collaboration with NBA player Jalen Brunson. Catalina Crunch is well-positioned to continue to expand its product offerings, explore new markets, and reinforce its position as a trailblazer in the health food industry. The brand’s commitment to quality, transparency, and customer satisfaction remains unwavering and this hire will be key to continue that success.
For more information on Catalina Crunch visit us.catalinacrunch.com and follow on Instagram (@CatalinaCrunch), Facebook (@CatalinaCrunch) and TikTok (@CatalinaCrunch). For sales inquiries, please email sales@catalinasnacks.com.
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Totino’s Scores Pete Davidson for NFL Playoff Promotion
As the Big Game approaches, Totino’s Pizza Rolls is making a bold play to rescue football fans from disappointing pizza delivery experiences in a new ad campaign airing during playoff season. In partnership with comedian and actor Pete Davidson, Totino’s aims to dethrone traditional flat pizza and help fans experience game day with Pizza Rolls snacks that are a touchdown in every bite.
While pizza remains the undisputed champion of the Big Game and topping the list of most ordered delivery foods, nothing ruins game day — other than the agony of your team taking a loss — like an unfortunate pizza delivery experience. Recognizing the plight of pizza lovers nationwide, Totino’s Pizza Rolls is stepping onto the field just in time for the playoffs, equipped with their arsenal of delicious, bite-sized pizza snacks that are ready in minutes.
“Flat Pizza has had its reign for far too long, which is why I’m teaming up with Totino’s Pizza Rolls in the fight for flavor,” said Davidson. “Let’s give the people what they deserve — delicious, piping hot pizza snacks!”
In two new ad spots developed in partnership with Dentsu Creative, Davidson delivers his signature style of comedy as he takes on pizza delivery and epic game day parties. In the first spot, “Pete’s Pre-Game,” Davidson spies on his neighbor struggling to receive a pizza delivery order and shows him why Totino’s is the best way to snack on game day. In “Pete’s Za Party,” consumers get a peek into his ultimate and over-the-top game day set up complete with a conveyer belt producing Pizza Rolls and even a built-in air fryer in the “hot seat,” all allowing him to enjoy Totino’s without ever having to leave his couch.
“We understand the importance of a great game day experience, and that starts with providing consumers unbeatable snacks offered at an affordable price point,” said Taylor Roseberry, brand experience manager for Totino’s. “With Totino’s Pizza Rolls, fans can expect a game-winning combination that delivers convenience and satisfaction in a delicious snack. This is brought to life in our creative campaign in collaboration with Davidson, whose comedic style and absurdly funny persona embodies the Totino’s brand perfectly.”
In addition to its collaboration with Davidson, Totino’s is surrounding the first-ever live Spanish broadcast of the Big Game on Univision with both a pre-show integration in partnership with fan-favorite hot sauce brand Tapatio. While no stranger to engaging and celebrating its growing fanbase of Hispanic snackers, Totino’s is releasing its first Spanish-language ad spot, “Hang Time” during Univision’s broadcast. The comedic spot shows how a pizza delivery driver’s day turns into an epic hang out as he joins the homeowner to experience first-hand the joys of selecting a superior snacking option like Totino’s Pizza Rolls.
Totino’s Pizza Rolls snacks promise to deliver an unmatched snacking experience for football fanatics. With the reliability of always being hot and ready in just minutes, these savory bites ensure a tasty touchdown celebration from the comfort of your couch.
For more information on all of Totino’s offerings, visit Totinos.com and follow Totino’s™ on social at Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Twitter.
General Mills makes food the world loves. The company is guided by its Accelerate strategy to drive shareholder value by boldly building its brands, relentlessly innovating, unleashing its scale and standing for good. Its portfolio of beloved brands includes household names such as Cheerios, Nature Valley, Blue Buffalo, Häagen-Dazs, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Totino’s, Annie’s, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, General Mills generated fiscal 2023 net sales of U.S. $20.1 billion. In addition, the company’s share of non-consolidated joint venture net sales totaled U.S. $1 billion.
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