June 16/Food & Beverage Close-Up -- Dean Foods Company announced that food and consumer packaged goods industry veteran Shaun Mara will join the company effective June 28, as senior vice president and chief accounting officer.

In a release dated June 11, the company said Mara most recently served as senior vice president of Finance for the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, a subsidiary of Mars. Prior to joining Wrigley, Mara held senior corporate finance positions with The Gillette Company. He also was with Staples and KPMG.

"Driving cost reductions and building the capabilities needed to capture those savings remains the key focus of our long-term strategic growth plan," said Jack Callahan, chief financial officer. "Shaun Mara brings critical expertise to Dean Foods at a time when his talent, leadership skills and financial acumen can help drive the business forward to achieve our goals."

The company also announced that Ron McCrummen will leave his current position as senior vice president and chief accounting officer to pursue interests outside the company.

"Ron played an integral role in the evolution of Dean Foods from an acquisition-based holding company into an industry-leading food and beverage company, and this change reflects his desire to pursue a broader Finance leadership role," said Callahan. "He will be missed, and we wish him well in his future endeavors."

From the June 21, 2010, Prepared Foods E-dition