GRAPEVINE: News About People

Food & Drink Weekly, Sept 18, 2000

PepsiCo announced Vice Chairman Karl von der Heyden, will leave the company and its board Jan. 31, 2001. Von der Heyden was enlisted by Chairman Roger Enrico in 1996 for a special role to help direct the company's strategic restructuring. He originally joined PepsiCo in 1974 and served in various senior management positions until leaving in 1980 for jobs with H.J. Heinz and then RJR Nabisco, where he retired as Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 1993.

H.J. Heinz Co. elected William Johnson as chairman. As only the fifth chairman in Heinz's 131-year history, Johnson succeeds Anthony O'Reilly, who retired. In addition to his new responsibilities Johnson will continue to serve as president and CEO of the H.J. Heinz Co. O'Reilly, who had been Heinz's chairman since 1987, had also held the positions of president and CEO before Johnson.

Fred Jaques is appointed executive vice president, North America, and president, Labatt Brewing Co. Ltd. Most recently, Jaques was with Interbrew North America where was responsible for developing growth for Interbrew and Labatt throughout North America and Mexico. The Labatt Brewing Co. is part of Belgium-based Interbrew S.A.

Suntory Water Group announced Pete Quattrocchi as vice president route operations. Quattrocchi began his career in the bottled water industry in 1979 at which time he joined Suntory Water Group brand Hinckley Springs (formerly Hinckley & Schmitt).

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (A&P) tapped Cheryl Palmer, formerly senior vice president of strategic marketing, as president of A&P's Food Emporium division, replacing Lou Ruggiero who is retiring. Palmer joined A&P last year from Allied Domecq Spirits & Wines. The Food Emporium, a division of A&P's Atlantic Region, operates 40 upscale supermarkets in Manhattan and nearby suburbs.

Bass Hotels & Resorts, a unit of Bass Plc, named John Sweetwood president of its Americas division, replacing Thomas Arasi, who will be leaving Bass. Sweetwood formerly was president of Bass Hotels & Resorts Midscale Hotel Group, North America.

The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements elected Sweden's Gunnar Rundgren as president of the board, a step up from his previous position of vice president, replacing Linda Bullard of Belgium, who had been the president since 1998. Rundgren will keep his job as CEO of Grolink, a company that links organic suppliers in developing countries with buyers in industrialized nations.

Howard Jacobson, long-time marketing executive and successful brand builder for Canandaigua Brands left the company to join the group of investors who is purchasing the Genesee Brewing Co. Genesee Corp. is considering strategic alternatives for the corporation's brewing business, and approved an agreement to sell the brewing business in a management buy-out led by Samuel Hubbard Jr., president and CEO of the corporation.

The Quaker Oats Co. selected Margaret Stender as president, ready-to-eat cereals, succeeding Harry Dent, who is leaving to pursue other interests. Stender began her Quaker career in 1983, left in 1996 for Ameritech's Americast Cable Television, and in 1999 became senior vice president and general manager of Consumer Travel Solutions for Rand McNally.

The American Frozen Food Institute named Michael Gill to vice president, legislative affairs. Previously, Gill worked for Rep. Jim Greenwood (R-Pa.) and then with the Ripon Educational Fund and Ripon Society in Washington, D.C.