Jorge Mesquita Named CEO of BlueTriton Brands To Lead Post-Nestle Future
Jorge Mesquita has been named CEO of BlueTriton Brands, the former U.S. and Canadian operations of Nestlé Waters.
Nestlé S.A. sold its North American spring water brands, purified water business and beverage delivery service to the One Rock Capital Partners and Metropoulos & Co. private equity firms for $4.3 billion earlier this year, which rebranded the business as BlueTriton. Mesquita, who was previously executive VP, worldwide chairman, consumer at Johnson & Johnson, will be tasked with leading its portfolio of regional spring water and national purified water brands as it embarks on growth and innovation initiatives as an independent business.
Mesquita joined Johnson & Johnson in 2014, and during his tenure he revamped the marketing, brand building and commercial strategies for a number of its brands, including Johnson’s Baby, Neutrogena and Listerine.
Prior to J&J, he spent nearly three decades at Procter & Gamble, overseeing its largest business unit and leading the design and delivery of Tide and Ariel Pods.
“The water category is primed for growth and innovation as more consumers seek healthy hydration alternatives to sugary drinks,” said Mesquita. “With an exceptional portfolio of beloved brands, BlueTriton is well-positioned to capitalize on this tremendous market opportunity. I look forward to working with our outstanding management team and talented professionals throughout the company to raise the bar on innovation while continuing to lead the way in sustainable water management and being a good neighbor in the communities in which we operate.”
Dean Metropoulos, chairman and former interim CEO of BlueTriton, called Mesquita a “transformational leader,” citing his track record of innovation and brand building.
“Jorge is the ideal executive to lead BlueTriton as we seek to expand our market leadership, advance our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship and realize the potential of our unrivaled portfolio of water brands,” he added.
