The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC) is shuffling its executive deck ahead of what might be the biggest corporate breakup in the food world this year. Shares traded up about 1.18% to around $24.79 on Tuesday after the packaged food giant announced that Steve Cahillane will take over as CEO effective January 1.
The timing isn't random. Kraft Heinz announced back in September that it would split into two separate public companies later next year, and Cahillane is being brought in to run one of them: Global Taste Elevation Co. The move comes with some serious credentials behind it—Cahillane most recently ran Kellanova until Mars acquired it in late 2025, and before that, he successfully navigated Kellogg through its own corporate separation. So he's done this dance before.
Cahillane will also join the board of directors when he officially starts, giving him a seat at the table as the company executes what it's calling a strategic transformation. His resume stretches across more than three decades in the food and beverage world, including senior leadership stints at Coca-Cola, AB InBev, and Nature's Bounty.
"I am honored to be joining Kraft Heinz as CEO at such a pivotal and exciting time," Cahillane said.
