US-based C.H. Guenther & Son (CHG) has announced the appointment of experienced CPG executive Rod Hepponstall as CEO, effective from 6 November.

In August, he resigned from the Canada-based seafood group High Liner Foods after more than five years as its CEO.

He has also held senior positions at other major food businesses, Lamb Weston, Conagra Brands, Grupo Bimbo and Maple Leaf Foods.

On the move to CHG, he said he aims to “further strengthen the company’s long-standing customer partnerships and take this storied business to the next level”.

He added: “For more than 170 years, CHG has produced remarkable and innovative food products while building a global network of manufacturing capabilities and flexibility.”

In a statement, CHG said it chose Hepponstall because “he led High Liner through multiple transformation initiatives, streamlined its global supply chain to better position the company for growth” and because his work resulted in “record adjusted EBITDA in his final full fiscal year”.

Hepponstall “brings to CHG more than two decades of senior leadership experience and a proven track record guiding retail and foodservice organisations to sustained growth, innovation and operational excellence,” the company said.

Dale Tremblay, chairman of CHG, added: “Rod is the right leader to guide CHG’s next chapter. His industry experience, customer obsession, focus on operational discipline and commitment to our company’s long-held values make him a great fit with our culture and our team.”

CHG has more than 4,600 employees in 29 food manufacturing locations in the USs, Canada and western Europe. It is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas.

It supplies grain-based products and frozen food to the foodservice and retail channels.

Its portfolio of brands includes Morrison’s White Wing flour mixes, Sun-Bird, Pioneer and William seasoning mixes.

CHG is owned by Pritzker Private Capital along with management and co-investors.