J.M. Smucker Promotes Rob Ferguson to Chief Product Supply Officer
The J.M. Smucker Co. has promoted Rob Ferguson, currently senior vice president and general manager of coffee and procurement, to the newly created role of chief product supply officer and executive vice president of coffee, pet and away from home.
With over 17 years of experience at J.M. Smucker, he will oversee company operations, distribution, supply chain, procurement, commodity hedging, quality assurance, research and development, and cost and productivity programs, including the company’s transformation office.
He will also lead strategic direction for retail coffee, pet foods and the away from home business, with each led by its respective general manager.
Mark Smucker, CEO and president, said Ferguson brings extensive supply chain expertise and a proven track record of leading transformational work, supporting growth and organizational productivity.
“The creation of the chief product supply officer role, and our promotion of Rob to this position, underscores our strategic focus on driving profitability and earnings growth, and his strategic leadership of coffee, pet and away from home will ensure continued focus on growth and margin expansion opportunities,” Smucker said in a statement.
This promotion was part of a grouping of strategic leadership changes that took effect on Feb. 9, which included CEO Mark Smucker reclaiming his presidency as COO John Brase departed the company.
As part of this, the company will hire for a new chief technology role that will focus on advancing J.M. Smucker's artificial intelligence strategy across the enterprise. The company will also search for an SVP of operations and supply chain and an SVP of science and technical community, who will be responsible for quality assurance, research and development, and other technical functions. Both of these roles will report to Ferguson.
Randy Day, SVP of operations, and Bryan Hutson, SVP of information services and supply chain, will retire from their respective roles.
"These executive leadership updates will sharpen our focus on driving top-line growth and enhancing profitability across the company,” added Smucker.
