WhiteWave Foods Creates COO Position

The WhiteWave Foods Company announces that Blaine McPeak, President of Americas Foods & Beverages, will be promoted to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer and will assume responsibility for all global operations of the company. McPeak will continue to report to Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Gregg Engles.

To further strengthen WhiteWave’s management structure, Kevin Yost, President of Americas Fresh Foods, will be promoted to U.S. Group President of Americas Foods & Beverages, overseeing WhiteWave’s U.S. businesses including Silk, So Delicious, Horizon, Wallaby Organic, Earthbound Farm and International Delight. Yost will report to McPeak. The international operations of Americas Foods & Beverages will continue to be managed by McPeak.

WhiteWave also announces that Chief Financial Officer Kelly Haecker has decided to leave the company effective March 31, 2016, to spend more personal time with his family. Over the course of the next four months Haecker will ensure a smooth transition of his responsibilities to Greg Christenson, who will be promoted to Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of WhiteWave, effective April 1, 2016, reporting to Engles.

Christenson, 48, has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Americas Foods & Beverages since June 2013. In that role, he has strengthened the capabilities of the finance, accounting and IT functions within this $2.5 billion segment and supported strategic growth initiatives, including integrating acquired businesses and partnering with business leaders to deliver strong results. Christenson has spent nearly 20 years in various financial roles at WhiteWave, Oberto Brands and Kraft.