ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS/UNIVERSITIES:
Koelnmesse, Germany
Stefanie Mauritz was appointed director of the Anuga tradeshows, effective Feb. 1, 2020, taking over for Lorenz Rau, who will be leaving the company at the end of January 2020 to become chief executive officer of Messe Augsburg. Previously, Mauritz has been director of euvend & coffeena since 2016. After working in the field of management consulting, she joined Koelnmesse in 2004, where she worked in corporate development for 12 years, where she helped develop Koelnmesse’s extensive portfolio as part of the Global Competence in Food and FoodTec.

Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA), Arlington, Va.
President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch will depart the association in February 2020 to serve as president and CEO of The Fertilizer Institute. Rosenbusch has been with GCCA for 14 years and took over as President in 2012. During his tenure, GCCA expanded its global footprint, opening offices is Brazil, Europe, India, Latin America, and South Africa; and launched new initiatives such as the Cold Chain Index, Energy Excellence and Certified Cold Carrier. Megan Costello, chief operating officer, was named interim CEO beginning Feb. 5, 2020, when Rosenbusch departs.

Produce Marketing Association (PMA), Newark, Del.
Dr. Max Teplitski was named chief science officer, effective Jan. 1, 2020, tasked with leading PMA’s science, technology, supply chain and sustainability efforts. Teplitski maintains a wealth of experience in leading national food safety and nutrition programs, building and sustaining private-public partnerships and a rich research background in microbiology, biotechnology and sustainability of agricultural production. Prior to joining PMA, Teplitski most recently served as acting director for the divisions of food safety and nutrition at the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), where he oversaw NIFA's investment portfolio into research programs in food safety, human nutrition and health, novel foods and manufacturing technologies, as well as programs that incentivize purchase of fruits and vegetables among low-income consumers, increase self-reliance of communities in providing food needs, promote access to local food and deliver customized FSMA training. He also spent over a decade as a faculty member at the University of Florida, where he led a research program focused on food safety, public and environmental health and agricultural crop production. He’s also contributed to industry research through the Center for Produce Safety.

PROCESSORS/RETAILERS/DISTRIBUTORS/MARKET RESEARCH:
Schwan’s Co., subsidiary of CJ CheilJedang, Bloomington, Minn.
Roberto Rios joined in the newly created position of chief marketing office. Rios maintains more than 25 years of marketing experience in the global consumer goods industry. Most recently, he served as the global chief marketing officer for beverages at PepsiCo’s world headquarters, where he was responsible for leading global brands such as Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, 7UP, Mirinda, Aquafina and LifeWater. Earlier, Rios held marketing, general management and leadership positions with several PepsiCo divisions and subsidiaries, including the Frito-Lay snacks division and in countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil and Mexico.

FOODSERVICE:
Nathan’s Famous, Inc., Jericho, N.Y.
Erik Mallon will serve as senior director of franchise development, where he will focus on the sales process from initial solicitation through contract completion. Mallon is a sales, operations and franchise industry executive with over 25 years of experience in both domestic and international markets. He has worked with various retail companies and quick-service restaurants, both as a franchisee and a franchisor. He began his tenure with My Gym Children's Fitness Center as a multi-unit area developer. He quickly moved into franchising, where he was vice president, franchise development, and president, international division. Through master franchise agreements, he expanded the My Gym brand to over 30 international markets. He was also a multi-unit franchisee with 16 handles for more than 8 years and became vice president, franchise development when the company expanded franchising efforts. Most recently, Mallon served as director of company center operations and vice president, franchise development for Huntington Learning Centers, where he spearheaded the re-franchising effort of company-owned centers. Jim Hicks assumes the role of director of operational services and training, where he will support existing Nathan’s Famous franchisees and their management teams by developing new systems and procedures to maximize sales for each store, manage the supply chain, as well as work with new franchisees through the various stages of the restaurant development process. Hicks maintains over 25 years of senior management experience in restaurant operations and corporate support. Most recently, he was country director, US West for Subway, where he was responsible for 5,300 locations in 13 western states. Before Subway, Hicks was senior vice president of North America for Johnny Rockets. His career also includes senior-level positions at Fresh Enterprises, El Pollo Loco and Prandium Restaurants (Koo Koo Roo, Hamburger Hamlet and Chi Chi’s Mexican). Both executives bring over 25 years of restaurant and franchise experience to the Nathan’s Famous brand.

Jack in the Box Inc., San Diego, Calif.
Lenny Comma, chairman and CEO, announced plans to leave the company, after 18 years of service. Comma was instrumental in the selling of Qdoba restaurants in 2014, and helped the company conclude its ninth straight year of system same-store sales growth. 

Potbelly Corp., Chicago
Tom Fitzgerald is stepping down as chief financial officer, effective Dec. 27, to accept a senior leadership position with another company.

SUPPLIERS:
CHL Systems, Souderton, Pa.
Aaron Lorah was named general manager, tasked with leading all project management, engineering, manufacturing and technical services, and strengthening communication and efficiencies between these four areas of operation. Lorah originally joined CHL Systems in 2011, briefly left the company, and then rejoined in 2016. He has served in numerous capacities during his career, including engineer, project engineer, project manager, director of development and director of project management.

First Solar, Inc., Tempe, Ariz.
Caroline Stockdale was named chief human resources officer, replacing Chris Bueter, who will continue in an advisory role until his retirement April 1, 2020. Stockdale will lead the company’s human resources and communications function, overseeing a global workforce of over 6,500 associates. She maintains more than 20 years of operating experience in finance, human resources, business leadership and process excellence, ranging from large global companies to entrepreneurial startups. She most recently served as chief executive officer of First Perform, and before that, was chief human resources officer for Medtronic and Warner Music Group, among others. She also worked as senior human resources leader in global divisions of American Express and General Electric. Stockdale is also a member of several advisory groups, including the Forbes Human Resources Council.

Henny Penny, Eaton, Ohio
Brian Silverberg was named new chief financial officer, charged with leading the company’s finance, IT and legal functions and focusing on putting new processes and technology in place. Silverberg maintains extensive experience providing financial leadership in public and private businesses in the service and manufacturing industries, specifically with process improvement, business analytics and mergers and acquisitions.

Big Joe Forklifts, Lombard, Ill.
David Kade will serve as new Northeast regional sales manager, covering New York, Pennsylvania, and the I-95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to Boston, Mass. Responsibilities will include dealer development and support, dealer sales training and acting as a factory liaison with regional and national accounts. Kade is a material handling industry veteran with extensive experience in sales and sales management.  

Kinedyne LLC, Branchburg, N.J.
John Seliga was named new vice president of finance, succeeding Tobey Rumack, who retired earlier this year. Seliga maintains more than 25 year’ financial experience in managing business growth and implementing financial, operational and technological changes.

Port of Oakland, Oakland, Calif.
Michele Heffes was named port attorney, succeeding Danny Wan, who became the port’s executive director. A 31-year port veteran, Heffes has been interim port attorney since Wan’s change in roles. Heffes advises the port on legal affairs, including litigation, real estate and labor, as well as environmental compliance and insurance coverage in maritime, aviation and commercial real estate businesses. She joined the port in 1988 as an environmental scientist, became a deputy port attorney in 1993, and held other positions in the port attorney’s office, including assistant port attorney. 

C.H. Robinson, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Michael Castagnetto was promoted to president of the Robinson Fresh division, succeeding Jim Lemke, who retired earlier this year. Castagnetto has been with C.H. Robinson since 2005, and has held various leadership roles throughout his career, including sourcing manager at Food Source, general manager of the tropical and dry vegetable categories and director of global supply and vice president of global sourcing.