Heinz makes some senior executive appointments

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Ketchup maker H.J. Heinz Co., which was taken private by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital earlier this month for $23.3 billion, has made several senior executive appointments.

3G, the Brazilian investment firm that owns Burger King, now runs Heinz. Berkshire is acting as the financing partner for the deal and owns 50 percent of Heinz.

Heinz shareholders overwhelmingly approved the sale in April.

On June 7 Bernardo Hees was named Heinz's new CEO. Hees took over from William Johnson, who received a golden parachute of $56 million, in addition to the $156.7 million in vested stock and deferred compensation he accrued over his career. 3G partner Paul Basilio was also named chief financial officer of Heinz at that time.

On Thursday Heinz filled several regional posts. This includes naming Brendan Foley as zone president of Heinz North America and Emin Mammadov as zone president of Heinz Russia, Turkey, the Middle East and Africa. Fernando Pocaterra was appointed zone president of Heinz Latin America, while Hein Schumacher will serve as zone president of Heinz Asia Pacific. Matt Hill was named zone president of Heinz Europe.

With the appointments comes the departure of several other executives, including David Moran, who served as executive vice president, president and CEO of Heinz North America and Global Infant Nutrition, and Chris Warmoth, executive vice president of Heinz Asia Pacific. Among others leaving the company are Chris Warmoth, executive vice president of Heinz Asia Pacific; Dave Woodward, executive vice president, president and CEO of Heinz Europe; and Roel van Neerbos, president of Heinz Continental Europe.

Heinz, which also makes baked beans, vinegar and Classico pasta sauce, also tapped Andy Keatings to serve as chief quality officer and named Eduardo Pelleissone as executive vice president of operations.