Campbell Appoints New North American Management Team

Campbell Soup Company today announced a new management team in North America for its healthy beverages and soup and simple meals businesses. The management team reports to Sean Connolly, President Campbell North America, Campbell’s largest division. The appointments are designed to accelerate innovation and streamline decision making:

• Ed Carolan, 41, is named Vice President & General Manager, Soup and Simple Meals with responsibility for U.S. soup and sauces and the company’s specialty brands businesses, including “Wolfgang Puck” soups and “SpaghettiO” pasta products. Carolan was Senior Vice President & General Manager, Baked Snacks, Pepperidge Farm, where he led a team that drove innovation and played a key role in leading the collaboration with Arnott’s on Campbell’s global baked snacks initiative. Earlier, Carolan served as Vice President & General Manager of North America Foodservice and also held leadership roles in U.S. Soup, where he helped grow Campbell’s condensed soup business. Carolan joined Campbell in 2001. He succeeds Andrew Brennan, who is named Vice President, Global Strategy, Advertising and Design.
• Tim Hassett, 46, is named Senior Vice President, Sales, Campbell North America, with responsibility for Campbell’s sales organization in the U.S. and Canada across both retail and foodservice. Hassett was Senior Vice President – Fresh & Frozen Bakery, Pepperidge Farm, where he led a team that delivered both share and earnings growth and oversaw the development and successful launch of the Deli Flats thin rolls line. Hassett brings extensive sales experience to the role, having served as Senior Vice President Sales & Distribution for Pepperidge Farm for four years. He joined Campbell in 2004. Hassett replaces Mike Salzberg, Senior Vice President – Campbell USA Sales, who has left the company.
• Darren Serrao, 44, is named to the newly-created role of Vice President & General Manager, Beverages and Breakthrough Innovation. Serrao will continue leading Campbell’s healthy beverages business in the U.S. with the added responsibility of accelerating innovation across the company’s U.S. retail businesses in simple meals, including soup and sauces, and healthy beverages. Most recently as Vice President & General Manager of Sauces and Beverages, Serrao has overseen the growth of Campbell’s beverages business in the U.S., including the expansion of the “V8 V-Fusion” line and introduction of “V8 V-Fusion + Tea” beverages. Serrao joined Campbell in 1999 and has held a number of key roles in Canadian and U.S. marketing and sales.
• Chris Slager, 41, is named Vice President & General Manager, North America Foodservice (NAFS) with responsibility for soups, sauces, beverages and Pepperidge Farm away-from-home products in the U.S. and Canada. He was Vice President & General Manager, Traditional Foodservice. Prior to his role in NAFS, Slager led the condensed soup and broth portfolio in Campbell USA. He succeeds Irene Chang Britt, who was named Campbell’s Chief Strategy Officer in Oct. 2010. Slager joined Campbell in 2002.

Connolly said, “This team has a strong track record of achievement and is the right group to lead the next phase of our growth. I am confident these changes will accelerate our ability to innovate, improve our agility, streamline our decision making and enhance our competitiveness in the marketplace for the long term.”

Additionally, Campbell made the following appointments:

• Maureen Linder, 48, formerly Vice President, Global Advertising and Design, succeeds Hassett as Senior Vice President – Fresh & Frozen Bakery, Pepperidge Farm. Since 2009, Linder has led Campbell’s global advertising and design. Previously, she spent 11 years at Pepperidge Farm in senior marketing roles. Linder joined Campbell in 1997. She reports to Pat Callaghan, President, Pepperidge Farm.
• Andrew Brennan, 49, will help advance the company’s strategic direction and lead its advertising and design function in his new role as Vice President, Global Strategy, Advertising and Design. Brennan has held both general management and strategy positions in the U.S. and Asia Pacific. Brennan joined Campbell in 2003. He reports to Britt.

All of the appointments are effective immediately, except for Carolan, who will begin his new role in mid-March.