NORTH AMERICA — Canadian dairy giant Saputo Inc., has announced the resignation of president and chief operating officer Kai Bockmann, effective immediately. 

Bockmann will be leaving the company on March 4., and his position will be taken over by Lino A. Saputo, who currently serves as chairman and chief executive officer. 

Mr. Bockmann had held the title of president and COO of Saputo, Inc. since April 2017 and had earlier served as president and COO of the company’s international dairy products division.  

Before joining Saputo he spent more than 15 years at McCain Foods Ltd where he served in various roles including managing director for McCain Foods Asia and Greater China. 

“Kai has contributed to building a strong and diverse leadership team, and we thank him for his dedication and involvement over the last 10 years,” Mr. Saputo said. 

As part of the management shuffle, Carl Colizza, president and COO of North America, and Leanne Cutts, president and COO of International and Europe, now will report to Mr. Saputo. 

Kraft Heinz adds new leader for North America 

Across the border in the United States, multinational food company Kraft Heinz has named Dafne Hefner as its new chief strategy and transformation officer for the company’s newly created North America Zone. 

The zone combines Kraft’s United States and Canada businesses and structural transition to the new business outfit is expected in early 2022. 

Full organizational and financial reporting changes are expected to take effect at the start of its second fiscal quarter.   

Ms. Hefner holds a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica and a master’s degree in product innovation and business from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

She most recently was senior vice president of strategy and insights at global brewing company Anheuser-Busch InBev. 

Hefner will bring strategic planning, processes, and digital capabilities to Kraft Heinz’s North America Zone, said Carlos Abrams-Rivera, president of the new business unit.  

She will work with other members of the North America leadership team to improve the agility of the unit’s innovation efforts and operations in the region. 

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