PITTSBURGH, Feb. 17, 2000 /PRNewswire/ -- The H.J. Heinz Company
(NYSE: HNZ) today announced that Neil Harrison, president and CEO of Heinz
Frozen Food Company, will head a worldwide management board for Heinz's frozen
food operations in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
"In order to take full advantage of changing global consumer, customer and
competitive environments, we will be completing the transition to global
category management of one of our fastest-growing categories, frozen foods and
snacks," said William R. Johnson, Heinz president and CEO. "Neil Harrison has
done an excellent job in coordinating the different elements of our frozen
business in North America. Under his direction, our worldwide management
board will more closely align global and regional strategies, resources and
priorities in our fast-growing frozen business."
Reporting to Harrison, in addition to the Heinz Frozen Food Company in
North America, will be Lawrence Balfe, managing director, European frozen and
chilled foods and Greg Evans, director-frozen, fruit and vegetables, Heinz
Wattie's Australasia.
The worldwide Heinz frozen foods group will be responsible for delivering
sales and operating results for this approximately $2 billion business while
simultaneously accelerating Heinz's global frozen food business through rapid
expansion of marketing innovation and best practices. At the same time,
frozen food operations in Europe and Australasia will continue to work closely
with, and leverage, shared functional services in H.J. Heinz Europe and Heinz
Wattie's Australasia.
Customer Excellence Task Force
Heinz also announced the appointment of Richard H. Wamhoff, executive vice
president - global manufacturing/supply chain and frozen foods, to lead a new
Global Task Force on Customer Excellence responsible for improving the
company's supply chain performance with particular emphasis on customer
service.
"The success of our brands and businesses strongly depends on delivering
outstanding customer service and flawless execution along every step of our
supply chain -- from procurement of raw materials to placement on our
customers' shelves," Johnson added. "Dick Wamhoff has an exceptional record
of achievement in supply chain leadership, and he will be able to leverage his
extensive global expertise toward total customer satisfaction - a critical
goal for Heinz's top-line growth strategy."
The appointments of Messrs. Harrison and Wamhoff will be effective May 1,
2000.
SOURCE H.J. Heinz Company
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.heinz.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/575757.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 575757
CONTACT:
MEDIA, Ted Smyth, SVP-Corp. & Govt. Affairs,
412-456-5780; Debbie Foster, Director-Corp. Comm., 412-456-5778;
or Jack Kennedy, GM-Strategic Comm., 412-456-5923; or INVESTORS,
Jack Runkel, VP-Investor Relations, 412-456-6034, all of Heinz
|
