B&G Foods’ Romanzi to succeed Cantwell as CEO in April
B&G Foods has announced that Robert Cantwell, the company’s chief executive officer has notified the board of directors that he plans to retire on April 5, 2019.
B&G Foods has announced that Robert Cantwell, the company’s chief executive officer has notified the board of directors that he plans to retire on April 5, 2019. Cantwell’s retirement will end a career of more than 35 years of continuous service to B&G Foods, including approximately 23 years of leadership as executive vice president of finance and chief financial officer and more than four years of leadership as president and chief executive officer.
In accordance with a succession plan established in 2017, B&G Foods’ board of directors has appointed Kenneth Romanzi, who currently serves as the company’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, as the next president and CEO, effective upon Cantwell’s retirement. At such time, Romanzi will also replace Cantwell on the board of directors.
Romanzi joined B&G Foods in December 2017 as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Prior to that, he served as president, fresh foods at WhiteWave Foods Corp., from March 2016 to October 2017, where he led Earthbound Farm Organic. Prior to joining WhiteWave, Romanzi served as senior vice president and chief operating officer, global brands of Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. from 2013 to 2015, and as senior vice president and chief operating officer of Ocean Spray’s North American food and beverage business from 2004 to 2013.
“As chief executive officer over the past four years, Cantwell has transformed B&G Foods by completing six acquisitions, including the Green Giant acquisition and the spices and seasonings acquisition, the two largest acquisitions in company history, and the company’s net sales have approximately doubled during Cantwell’s tenure as CEO,” said Stephen Sherrill, chairman of the board of directors.