Ferrero USA appoints new vice president for trade marketing and category management
Amid a period of continued expansion, Ferrero USA, part of the global confectionery company Ferrero Group, has unveiled Michael Zacharias as its vice president, trade marketing, and category management.
As the business, which was among key exhibitors at Sweets and Snacks Expo (main image) explained to Confectionery Production, this new role, Zacharias will lead trade marketing, category management and shopper marketing for the company’s portfolio, which includes Nutella, Kinder, Tic Tac, Ferrero Rocher, Crunch, Baby Ruth and Butterfinger. The newly appointed vice president will report to James Klein, Ferrero Chief Customer Officer, Ferrero USA.
“Michael’s deep experience in the food and beverage industry, his extensive market management and his strategic planning experience expertise will be valuable assets to Ferrero and help drive the continued growth of our brand portfolio,” said Klein.
Zacharias, (above), joins Ferrero from American brewing company Anheuser-Busch, where he spent the entirety of his career. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Sales for the company’s northeast region. In his role, Zacharias was responsible for the full profit & loss centre of the Northeast Business Unit, including strategic planning, human resources, sales and marketing, business development and customer satisfaction.
Throughout his tenure with the company, Michael has held other corporate leadership positions, including stints as Vice President of Trade Marketing and Group Director of Revenue Management.
“I’m honoured to join the Ferrero ranks and build upon an impressive legacy of product excellence and commercial integrity that has sustained the company for decades,” said Zacharias, who will be based in Parsippany, N.J.
Zacharias holds a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Valparaiso University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Washington University
Formed over 70 years ago, Ferrero entered the U.S. market in 1969 with Tic Tac mints and continues to gain a share of the world’s largest single confectionery market with its Ferrero Rocher, Nutella, Kinder and Fannie May chocolates among many others.
Remaining a family owned-company, it has a total of 3,000 employees in seven offices and eight plants and warehouses in North America.
