Dean Foods Names Chris Sliva Chief Commercial Officer
Dean Foods Names Chris Sliva Chief Commercial Officer
Dean Foods Co. (DF) selected the president of its Morningstar division, Chris Sliva, for the newly created role of chief commercial officer.
In his new position, Sliva will direct strategy for Morningstar as well as the fresh dairy business, where the current president is leaving to pursue other opportunities.
The company declined to comment beyond the press release.
Harrald Kroeker, president of the fresh dairy segment for the past four years, will step down from that post immediately, though the 50-year-old will remain with the company through next month. Dean Foods' President and Chief Operating Officer Joe Scalzo said Kroeker is credited with improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the fresh dairy operations.
Sliva, 47, in his new role will report to Scalzo, the former president and chief executive of WhiteWave-Morningstar who was elevated to his current position in August. Sliva will be responsible for more closely aligning the company's sales organizations, commercial lines and customer relationships.
Sliva has been president of the Morningstar business since January. He joined Dean Foods' WhiteWave division in 2006 and was promoted to chief operating officer of Morningstar in 2008.
Dean Foods--which makes Horizon Organic dairy products, Silk soy milk and International Delight coffee creamers--in August said its second-quarter earnings fell 30% as it continued to be hurt by consumers' shift to private-label milk offerings. The company also projected third-quarter earnings below analysts' estimate.'
The dairy segment, Dean Food's largest business, has seen earnings decline in recent quarters amid lower whole milk prices. The WhiteWave-Morningstar division, which includes ice cream and yogurt as well as organic products has seen profits improve lately.
Shares were down 4 cents at $10.58 in recent trading. The stock is down 41% this year.
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