Kraft Foods, a worldwide leader in branded food, announced yesterday that it has named Michael B. Polk, 40, as Group Vice President, Kraft Foods North America, and President of the Nabisco Biscuit & Snacks Group. Polk had been Group Vice President, Kraft Foods International, and President, Asia Pacific Region.
“Mike Polk is a high-energy leader who brings nearly 20 years of packaged goods growth to the Biscuit & Snacks Group,” said Betsy D. Holden, President and CEO of Kraft Foods North America. “He has an outstanding record of building businesses across some of our biggest categories and fastest-growing markets.”
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The Nabisco Biscuit & Snacks Group, based in Northern New Jersey, is one of Kraft Foods North America’s four business segments. The Group is comprised of three divisions: the Nabisco Biscuit Division, the Confections Division, and the Planters Division; and includes such icon brands as Oreo cookies, Ritz crackers, Life Savers candies, Altoids intense mints, and Planters nuts.
Kraft also announced the appointment of Hugh H. Roberts, 49, as Group Vice President, Kraft Foods International, and President, Asia Pacific Region, succeeding Polk. He will be based in Melbourne, Australia. Since 1998, Roberts has been President of Kraft Foods International’s Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (CEEMA) Region based in Vienna, Austria.
“Hugh has been an important driver of our business growth in the CEEMA Region,” said Roger Deromedi, President and CEO of Kraft Foods International. “His strong credentials in developing markets, leadership in past business integration efforts, and proven skills in working with important joint venture partners will serve him well in the Asia Pacific region.”
Polk joined Kraft in 1987 and has held key marketing positions in the company’s coffee and beverages businesses, as well as in sales. In 1998, he was named Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Post cereals business. In January 2000, he assumed leadership of the Asia Pacific Region.
Roberts joined Kraft Foods in 1975, and was named Vice President, Marketing, of the company’s dry grocery business in 1983. He joined Kraft’s international operations in 1984 as Vice President of Marketing and Sales, and later led the integration of Kraft and General Foods UK as Managing Director of Kraft General Foods. He returned to Kraft Foods North America in 1992, serving in several senior management positions before moving to Kraft Foods International in 1996 as Executive Vice President, Kraft Jacobs Suchard CEEMA Region.
A successor to Roberts as Group Vice President, Kraft Foods International, and President, CEEMA Region, will be named shortly.
Kraft Foods is the multinational food business of Philip Morris Companies Inc.
EDITOR’S NOTE: See our websites at www.kraftfoods.com/corporate and www.kraftinternational.com for bios and high-resolution photos.
