Maple Leaf Foods makes key appointments, realigns exec team
Maple Leaf Foods Inc. has made several changes to its senior leadership team, including reducing the size of its top two management layers.
Mike Yang joins the company as chief supply officer, replacing Iain Stewart, who is retiring in May.
Yang previously held senior roles at Kruger Products, Noramerica International Corporation, Irving Consumer products and Kimberly Clark Corporation.
Josh Kuehnbaum—who has spent over 25 years at Maple Leaf Foods—takes on the new role of senior vice president, customer business development, for Canada. The appointment consolidates responsibility for all Canadian retail and foodservice sales under one leader.
Another company veteran, Ryan Walker, has been tapped as SVP of poultry, succeeding Ben Brooks, who also retires in May. Walker has held roles in operations and business development in Canada and the U.S.
Maple Leaf Foods said the appointments are part of the execution of its refreshed strategic blueprint, which was outlined last year.
"Since bringing our meat and plant protein businesses together under a consolidated protein strategy last year, we have been intensely focused on delivering on our full potential as a Consumer Packaged Goods powerhouse," said Curtis Frank, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods, in a release. "Our efforts are anchored in the strength of our leading brands, leadership in sustainability, expanding our geographic reach, and leveraging our diversified protein portfolio to meet consumer demand—all underpinned by elevating our cost reduction focus and achieving operational excellence.