The former CEO of the Kellogg Co. has been tapped to lead Kraft Heinz as it prepares to split into two companies.
Kraft Heinz said Tuesday that Steve Cahillane will serve as CEO starting Jan. 1. Once Kraft Heinz becomes two companies – which is expected to happen in the second half of next year – Cahillane will become the CEO of what is currently called Global Taste Elevation Co. That company will house some of Kraft Heinz’s biggest sellers, including Kraft Mac & Cheese, Philadelphia cream cheese and Heinz.
“Like millions of people around the world, I have a deeply personal connection to the Kraft Heinz brands, dating back to my childhood,” Cahillane said in a statement. “I’ve devoted my entire career to building brands, and the opportunity to do the same with Kraft Heinz’s iconic portfolio is a dream come true.”
The remaining company, dubbed North American Grocery Co., will include slower-selling brands like Maxwell House, Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables. Kraft Heinz hasn’t yet named a CEO of that company.
Kraft Heinz said Carlos Abrams-Rivera, who has been its CEO since January 2024, will serve as an adviser to the company until March 2026.
Kraft Heinz announced in September that it would split into two companies a decade after a merger of the brands created one of the biggest food manufacturers on the planet.
Kraft Heinz said the separation would make it more agile and able to focus resources on products with the most growth potential.
Kraft Heinz and other packaged food companies have struggled as consumers shift away from the kinds of highly processed packaged foods that they sell, like Velveeta cheese and Kool-Aid. The push to remove artificial flavors and dyes added further costs.
Big food companies have also had trouble distinguishing their products from cheaper store brands.
Cahillane presided over a similar breakup at Kellogg Co. in 2023. He served as CEO of Kellanova — which housed popular brands like Cheez-Its, Pringles and Pop-Tarts — until it was acquired last year by M&M's maker Mars Inc. The remaining company, cereal maker WK Kellogg Co., was acquired by Italian confectioner Ferrero in July.
Before joining Kellogg in 2017, Cahillane had executive roles at The Nature's Bounty Co., Coca-Cola Co. and AB InBev.
Kraft Heinz board Chairman Miguel Patricio said Cahillane is “uniquely qualified” to lead the company.
“His track record and experience in the industry are unparalleled and will be invaluable as we embark on this next chapter,” Patricio said in a statement.
Kraft Heinz shares were flat in midday trading Tuesday.
FILE - Steve Cahillane, president of Coca-Cola Americas, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press while attending the Clinton Global Initiative America gathering in Chicago, June 7, 2012. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)
ROME (AP) — Italy's soccer federation president resigned amid political pressure on Thursday, two days after the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
Gabriele Gravina's decision will likely lead to the ouster of Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso, too.
Italy Sports Minister Andrea Abodi called for a change in the country’s soccer leadership after Gravina oversaw two sets of disappointing World Cup qualifiers.
“It’s evident to everyone that Italian soccer needs to be overhauled,” Abodi said on Wednesday, “and that process needs to start with new leadership at the FIGC (federation).”
Italy’s chances of reaching this year’s tournament in North America ended on Tuesday after a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualifying playoff.
Gravina took charge of the federation in 2018 replacing Carlo Tavecchio, who also stepped down after Italy failed to reach that year’s World Cup.
The defeat to Bosnia added more misery for four-time champion Italy after being eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively, in the qualifying playoffs for the last two World Cups.
Italy’s World Cup struggles go back all the way to 2010 and 2014 when it failed to advance from its group on both occasions.
The Azzurri’s last World Cup knockout match was in 2006 when they won the title by beating France in the final after a penalty shootout.
Gravina did oversee Italy’s European Championship trophy in 2021.
“Soccer has been in trouble since 2006,” Italian coaches association president Renzo Ulivieri said.
Players’ association president Umberto Calcagno said new regulations promoting the use of more Italian players in Serie A were necessary: “A rapid change needs to be made."
An election was called for June 22 to elect a new FIGC president.
Gravina also announced that he would attend a hearing in Italy’s parliament next Wednesday to discuss “the wellbeing of Italian soccer.”
Gattuso took over from the fired Luciano Spalletti in June with the squad already in crisis mode following a defeat at Norway in its opening qualifier.
The Azzurri then went on a six-match winning streak before losing again to Norway in November to finish second in their group and end up in the playoffs again.
Among those being mentioned to replace Gattuso are Roberto Mancini, Simone Inzaghi, Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri.
Mancini coached Italy to the European Championship title in 2021 then failed to get the Azzurri to the next year’s World Cup before bolting to take over Saudi Arabia’s national team.
Inzaghi coached Inter Milan to the Serie A title in 2024 and now manages Saudi club Al-Hilal.
Conte coached Italy at the 2016 European Championship and is currently at Napoli.
Allegri is at AC Milan.
Gravina is also Aleksander Ceferin’s top vice president at UEFA.
UEFA statutes require that executive committee members are also senior FA officials but Gravina could stay in the UEFA role as a lame duck as long as the FIGC’s new leadership doesn’t demand his removal.
Gravina was re-elected last year by UEFA so he has three more years in his current term.
“Gabriele is my first vice president and is very important to me,” Ceferin said in Thursday’s Gazzetta dello Sport after attending the playoff in Bosnia.
Besides revitalizing the national team, whoever replaces Gravina will be tasked with getting Italy’s dilapidated stadiums ready to host the 2032 European Championship.
Italy is slated to co-host Euro 2032 with Turkey.
“I hope that the infrastructure is ready,” Ceferin said. “Otherwise the tournament won’t be played in Italy.”
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - A journalist stands at the entrance of the FIGC Italian Soccer Federation, where a logo with four stars (one for each World Cup won) is seen partly in the shade, in Rome, on Nov. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)
Italy players react during a penalty shootout during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
A broken soccer ball is pictured on a street in Rome, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Italy's Gianluigi Donnarumma walks off the pitch after losing in a World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
Italy's coach Gennaro Gattuso walks off the pitch after losing in a World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
Italy players react after losing in a World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
