TORONTO -- McCain Foods Ltd. has named Dirk Van de Put president and chief executive of the frozen food company, effective July 1.
The company's board of directors recruited Van de Put, a 20-year veteran in the food and consumer packaged goods industry, as chief operating officer in May 2010. He has been working closely with outgoing chief executive Dale Morrison as part of a planned succession process. Morrison is leaving McCain Foods to become a founding partner in a private equity firm.
Van de Put joined McCain Foods from Novartis where he was president of its $3-billion global over-the-counter consumer health business. Prior to that, he held executive positions with Group Danone and Mars Inc.
McCain Foods is the world's largest manufacturer of frozen potato products and also produces frozen pizza, appetizers, meals, juices and desserts. It also owns The Day & Ross Transportation Group, one of the largest transportation companies in Canada.
Editors: Visit our newsroom at http://www.mccain.com to download a high-resolution image of Dirk Van de Put
