Kraft Heinz appoints three new members to its board of directors

USA – The Kraft Heinz Company has announced the appointment of three new members — L. Kevin Cox, Mary Lou Kelley, and Tony Palmer — to its Board of Directors.

The appointments come at a pivotal time as the company advances its transformation strategy and prepares to separate into two independent, publicly traded entities.

Miguel Patricio, Executive Chair of the Board of Directors at Kraft Heinz, said the company is pleased to welcome the new board members, noting that each brings significant leadership experience from large, complex organizations.

“Their combined decades of insight and experience will be incredibly valuable as we deliver on our core business and prepare to separate Kraft Heinz into two industry-leading companies,” Patricio said.

L. Kevin Cox joins the board with more than three decades of experience in human resources and organizational leadership. He currently leads LKC Advisory LLC, a strategic consulting firm specializing in executive leadership development, culture transformation, and talent management. 

Before that, Kevin served as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at General Electric (GE) from 2019 to 2023, and later as both CHRO of GE and Chief Administrative Officer at GE Aerospace. 

His earlier career includes 14 years at American Express, where he was Chief Human Resources Officer, and several executive roles at the Pepsi Bottling Group. 

He also previously served on the boards of Kraft Foods Group and The Kraft Heinz Company, chairing the Compensation Committee during his tenure.

Mary Lou Kelley brings extensive expertise in retail, e-commerce, and brand marketing. She most recently served as President of E-Commerce for Best Buy Co., Inc. from 2014 to 2017, leading digital strategy and online operations. 

Before that, she held senior roles at Chico’s FAS and L.L. Bean, where she led retail real estate and marketing. 

Kelley has over 25 years of experience in transforming customer experiences through digital innovation and currently serves on the boards of Yeti and Finning International.

Tony Palmer adds more than 30 years of consumer packaged goods experience. He is currently an Operating Partner at One Rock Capital Partners LLC and previously held senior positions at Kimberly-Clark, including President, Global Brands and Innovation, and Chief Marketing Officer. 

Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at Kellogg Company and The Coca-Cola Company, gaining extensive international experience. Palmer serves on the board of Brambles and was a longtime director at The Hershey Company.

Carlos Abrams-Rivera, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member at Kraft Heinz, welcomed the appointments, noting their strategic significance. 

“Kevin, Mary Lou, and Tony will be tremendous assets to the Board and partners to the Kraft Heinz Executive Team,” he said. “Their expertise across CPG, retail, and e-commerce, as well as in organizational transformation, will complement our existing board as we focus on performance and prepare for the company’s next chapter.”

Subscribe to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa, the Middle East and around the world. SUBSCRIBE HERE