ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:

Paperboard Packaging Council, Springfield, Mass.
New to the board of directors for 2013-14 is chairman Stephen Scherger, Graphic Packaging International ; vice chairman Kyle Eldred, Frankston Packaging Co., LP; and treasurer Steven Levkoff, The Standard Group.

International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR), Alexandria, Va.
Eric Smith was promoted to vice president and technical director, responsible for representing IIAR’s technical expertise and members at an executive level, both within the United States, at events and on domestic committees, and as IIAR’s technical liaison to organizations representing the industrial refrigeration industry around the world. Smith will continue to lead IIAR’s technical initiatives and standards writing processes with a new focus on executing IIAR’s long-term technical goals and expanding the international reach of the organization’s relationships and strategic partnerships.

PROCESSORS/RETAILERS:

Ginger Beef Corp., Canada
Chi Him Kan was appointed director. Kan is also part owner of a company that operates a restaurant.

Tyson Fresh Meats, the beef and pork subsidiary of Tyson Foods, Springdale, Ark.
Keith Culver was named vice president of new product sales and production, responsible for overseeing the company’s value-added meat efforts, including operations and sales for the Bruss Co., a subsidiary involved in producing steaks and chops for the restaurant industry, as well as the company’s meat processing sales and operations in Emporia, Kan. Culver is assuming the role held by Charlie Mostek, who is retiring after 44 years with IBP Inc. and Tyson Foods.

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, El Segundo, Calif.
Jim Keyes, former chairman and CEO of 7-Eleven, was appointed to oversee the retailer when the sale of 150 of its 200 stores to Yucaipa Cos., Los Angeles, is finalized.

Nippon Suisan, Brunswick, Ga.
Michael Alexander was named president and CEO of King & Prince Seafood, effective Nov. 1, succeeding current CEO Volker Kuntzsch. Alexander has been with King & Prince Seafood for three years.

High Liner Foods, Inc., Canada
Keith Decker was appointed to the newly created position of president and COO, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company. Henry Demone will remain in his role as CEO and continue to focus on strategy and growth opportunities. These changes are effective immediately. Decker has been the president and COO since March 2008, responsible for the overall performance of the company’s U.S. operations, and during his tenure, also led the integration of three acquisitions into the U.S. operations. Previously, Decker was president and COO at Fishery Products International and joined High Liner Foods through its acquisition of FPI's North American value-added foodservice and retail frozen seafood businesses in 2007.

Happy Egg Co., San Francisco, Calif.
Matt Materazo was appointed president and general manager of the company's U.S. operation. Materazo brings more than 25 years of food and beverage as well as consumer packaged goods experience. With cross-functional leadership skills that include sales, operations, trade marketing, business development and corporate strategy, Materazo has built and led cohesive teams for both large publicly traded Fortune 500 companies, including Kraft Foods, Del Monte Foods and ConAgra Foods, as well as small privately held companies such as Sargento.

Kraft Foods Group, Northfield, Ill.
Sam Rovit was named executive vice president and president of the company's Oscar Mayer business unit, succeeding Nick Meriggioli, who will be leaving the organization in early 2014. As Kraft's head of strategy, Rovit architected the separation of the former Kraft Foods into two stand-alone, public companies—Kraft Foods Group and Mondelez International.

The Kroger Co., Cincinnati
David Dillon, a 37-year Kroger veteran who has been serving as chief executive officer since 2003, will retire, effective Jan. 1, 2014, while continuing to serve as chairman of the board through Dec. 31, 2014. W. Rodney McMullen, president and COO, will become CEO on Jan. 1, 2014.

Tampa Maid Foods, Lakeland, Fla.
Mitchel Richman was appointed director of national accounts, responsible for developing and expanding national accounts. Richman maintains more than 25 years of experience in the food industry. He formerly worked with Ken’s Foods, Ore-Ida Foodservice (an H.J. Heinz Co.) and Kraft Foods.

FOODSERVICE:

Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc., Canton, Mass.
The parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins brands enhanced its IT leadership team with the appointment of two new vice presidents. David Starmer joined as vice president of IT, store systems, focusing on back office improvements, including labor and inventory, as well as the integration of in-store technologies to further streamline tasks for the brands' franchisees and restaurant managers. Starmer holds a wealth of experience in point-of-sale, back office systems and in-store technology execution within the quick-service restaurant industry. Paul Zaher joined as vice president of IT, marketing systems, responsible for the IT needs of the marketing teams, with particular emphasis on mobile and loyalty initiatives, as well as enhancing the company's business intelligence and analytical reporting tools for franchisees. Zaher is a seasoned IT executive with more than 20 years of experience.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., Greenwood Village, Colo.
John Schaufelberger was appointed vice president of brand marketing, responsible for overseeing the company’s advertising, media, national promotions, communications and in-store merchandising. Schaufelberger brings to Red Robin more than 20 years of national and international experience in development and execution of brand marketing strategy, programming and media planning, R&D innovation and new concept development.

Darden Restaurants, Inc., Orlando, Fla.
The owner of Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V's and Yard House’s president and COO Drew Madsen announced his retirement, effective the end of the company's fiscal second quarter. He will be succeeded, effective immediately, by Gene Lee, who currently serves as the president of Darden's Specialty Restaurant Group. During Madsen's 6.5-year tenure as executive vice president of marketing and then president of Olive Garden, the brand achieved 26 consecutive quarters of profitable same restaurant sales growth and record margins. Since he became COO in December 2004, Darden has grown to 2,155 restaurants and $8.6 billion in annual revenue, doubling earnings per share and delivering a total shareholder return of more than 110%.

Wendy's Co., Dublin, Ohio
Margaret Nollen was named senior vice president, investor relations and strategy, responsible for leading the investor relations and strategic planning functions. Nollen joins Wendy's with more than 25 years of experience in finance and administration, including nearly 20 years in investor relations, across multiple industries. She most recently served as senior vice president, strategy and investor relations for the H.J. Heinz Co.

SUPPLIERS:

Lineage Logistics, Colton, Calif.
Diogo Lobo joined as president of logistics, responsible for developing a new line of logistics services that enables Lineage to fulfill customers’ needs across the temperature-controlled supply chain. Prior to joining Lineage, Lobo was head of international logistics at JBS USA, where he was responsible for directing its international logistics efforts. His extensive logistics experience also includes previous tenures operating in various logistics project management positions within the food supply chain and at multiple food producers, including Sadia (now part of Brazil Foods) and Woolworths’ meat division of QKSA.

POWER Engineers, Inc., Hailey, Idaho
Sam Casey was tapped business unit director for the company’s facilities and food and beverage team, responsible for supporting international activities and program management services. For more than 32 years, Casey worked as a senior leader at H.J. Heinz, most recently as the director of global engineering. He also served as the director of engineering for Heinz North America, director of operations for frozen soups and other various high-level positions across the United States.

Baltimore Aircoil Co., Jessup, Md.
Larry Wei was named new director of marketing, responsible for leading the company’s overall marketing efforts in the Americas to ensure the development and implementation of channel, sales effectiveness and product strategies. In addition, Wei will collaborate closely with BAC’s businesses worldwide in the development of shared global strategies to fully leverage the company’s investments in technology, manufacturing and marketing.

IN MEMORIUM: FRITZI WOODS, WOMEN’S FOODSERVICE FORUM
Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF), Dallas Fritzi Woods, president and CEO, passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 18. For the past three years, she led the WFF and worked with the country's largest foodservice organizations advocating for women's leadership development. More recently, she began working with the Obama administration to advocate for policies promoting gender-balanced executive teams. With more than 20 years board experience, Woods was serving on the following boards: Jamba Juice, PrimeSource FoodService Equipment, Lone Star New Markets, National Restaurant Association, Southwest Medical Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Northwestern University-Kellogg Center for Executive Women and numerous advisory committees. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.