Dean Foods appoints Ralph Scozzafava as CEO

Dean Foods Company has appointed executive vice-president and chief operating officer Ralph Scozzafava as chief executive officer and a member of its board of directors.

Scozzafava will assume the new roles from 1 January next year, succeeding Gregg A Tanner as CEO. 

For a smooth transition, Tanner will continue to serve as an adviser to the company through the annual stockholders meeting, which will be held next May.

Dean Foods non-executive chairman of the board Jim Turner said: "This announced transition is the culmination of our succession planning efforts, and the board is confident that Ralph, supported by Dean Foods' experienced and dedicated management team, is the right leader for the company's continued success and growth.

"The board sincerely thanks Gregg for his many contributions to Dean Foods over the past decade. His outstanding leadership, especially following the divesture of Morningstar and the spin-off of WhiteWave, was instrumental in achieving a renewed focus and guiding the company through new business opportunities."

With more than three decades of experience in the consumer goods and grocery categories, Scozzafava joined Dean Foods in October 2014 as executive vice-president and chief commercial officer before being promoted to chief operating officer last October.

He previously worked with Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company and Campbell Soup Company. 

Tanner said: "Ralph is a passionate leader with a successful track record of growing businesses, driving efficiencies and building strong teams. I am confident in Ralph's and the team's ability to advance the business and deliver substantial shareholder value."

Based in Dallas, Texas, Dean Foods is a leading food and beverage company in the US. Its portfolio includes milk brands DairyPure and TruMoo, as well as Alta Dena, Berkeley Farms, and Country Fresh. 

Dean Foods also makes and distributes ice cream, cultured products, juices, teas and bottled water.

It has almost 17,000 employees across the country.