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Utz Brands Appoints Former Tropicana Executive as New CFO
Dive Brief:
- Utz Brands has announced the appointment of William J. Kelley Jr., a former Tropicana executive, as its new chief financial officer, effective May 1, replacing current CFO Ajay Kataria.
- Kelley brings with him extensive experience from his time at Tropicana, where he played a key role in the company’s separation from PepsiCo in 2021.
- Kataria, who has been with Utz for eight years and served as CFO since 2021, helped the snacks company go public in 2020.
Dive Insight:
Utz Brands, a well-known snacks company in the Northeast, is looking to leverage Kelley’s industry expertise to drive its financial growth on a national scale.
CEO Howard Frieman expressed confidence in Kelley’s abilities, citing his track record in the food and beverage industry. “We are excited to have him on board as we continue to pursue our long-term growth strategy,” said Frieman.
In his statement, Kelley commended Utz’s expansion efforts and expressed his enthusiasm for the company’s future. The reason for Kataria’s departure was not disclosed.
Additionally, Utz announced the promotion of Jeremy Stuart to chief customer officer and executive vice president of sales, replacing retiring executive Mark Schreiber. Stuart, who previously worked at Coca-Cola, joined Utz in 2023.
As Utz anticipates a positive financial outlook, with a projected annual growth of 1.5% to 1.7% for the first quarter of 2025, the company has made strategic moves to strengthen its core brands. This includes the sale of Good Health and R.W. Garcia brands in 2024 and the opening of a new logistics center in Pennsylvania.