Utz Executive Changes Name Devore COO, Kataria IT Leader

Cary Devore has been appointed executive VP and COO of Utz, a new role for the company and one in a series of management changes.

Currently Utz chief financial officer, Devore will work across the organization to help drive revenue growth, productivity and operational excellence for the snack company. He’ll also continue to drive its strategic corporate initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and providing oversight for the project management office.

Devore joined Utz in 2016 as a board member as part of a minority equity investment into Utz and transitioned to a full-time operational role in 2017. From 2016 to 2019, he worked closely with Utz CEO Dylan Lissette on driving M&A, value creation and team development.

Devore was named EVP and CFO in 2019, where he focused on leading the company’s merger with Collier Creek Holdings and its transition to a public company. With the new role taking effect Oct. 4, he’ll continue to report to Lissette.

In addition to Devore’s new role, the company is also making changes to its executive management team.

Ajay Kataria has been appointed executive VP and chief financial officer. Currently EVP of finance and accounting, Kataria is a global consumer goods finance leader with more than 20 years of experience. As CFO, he will assume responsibility of accounting, tax and investor relations, in addition to the business partner teams and IT function that he oversees today.

Kataria joined Utz in 2017 and has held a leadership role in building out Utz’s FP&A, commercial finance, and supply chain finance teams, as well as overseeing the IT function, and playing a leadership role in migrating to a new fully integrated ERP infrastructure.

He’s also been a key contributor to Utz’s M&A integrations and helped lead the accounting team through Utz’s public listing process. Kataria joined Utz from Armstrong Flooring, where he served as VP, global finance and strategy. Prior to Armstrong, he was with Chobani as VP, finance, and with PepsiCo in a series of finance roles.

As part of these changes, Jim Sponaugle has been appointed executive VP and chief people officer. He is currently Utz’s SVP of human resources and personnel development.

Todd Staub, executive VP and chief administrative officer, has announced his intention to retire effective Jan. 3, 2022.