August 4/Business & Finance Week -- Ralcorp Holdings Inc. announced the appointment of Ronald D. Wilkinson to the newly created position of president, Ralcorp Cereal Products, leading both the Branded Cereal Products and Other Cereal Products segments, which include Post Foods LLC, Ralston Foods and Bloomfield Bakers. Currently serving as president of Ralcorp's Ralston Foods division, Wilkinson will retain his status as a corporate vice president (CVP) of Ralcorp and will continue to report to David P. Skarie, co-chief executive officer and president, Ralcorp Holdings.
In a related appointment, Bart Adlam was promoted to president of Post Foods, LLC, from the position of vice president of Marketing for Post Foods. Adlam will report to Wilkinson. These organizational changes become effective immediately.
In his new role, Wilkinson will focus on increasing operational efficiencies of Ralcorp's cereal businesses, achieving cost savings, overseeing the execution of brand-building opportunities, improving product innovation, enhancing customer service delivery, and increasing and enhancing business growth initiatives.
Wilkinson is a senior consumer packaged goods executive with over 34 years in the industry and extensive experience in the cereal category. After 19 years with the Quaker Oats company, where he was vice president, supply cChain for its U.S. Breakfast Division, Wilkinson joined Ralcorp in 1995 as executive vice president of Manufacturing for Ralston Foods. In 1996, he assumed the position of CVP and director of Product Supply at Ralston Foods; concurrently, he served as director of Product Supply for The Carriage House Companies, from January 2003-2006. In 2006, Wilkinson assumed the position of CVP and president of Bremner Food Group Inc. and Nutcracker Brands Inc. until 2008. Following that, he became CVP and president of Ralston Foods and will continue in this position until a new leader is named for the division.
"Ron brings a wealth of experience in the food business, specifically, cereal category expertise to this position," said Skarie. "We want Ralcorp's cereal businesses to be better and more competitive in every way possible, and I know Ron will create the synergies and product improvements to help us achieve our goal."
In his new position, Adlam will be responsible for managing and growing the Post Foods division. His focus will include brand building, product innovation, and customer innovation. He will also focus on maximizing the impact and returns on Post's merchandising, advertising and promotional spending. Adlam will lead the organization by implementing the growth plan he has developed for 2011 and beyond, including the implementation of a robust innovation pipeline.
Adlam is an experienced marketing executive with over 15 years in consumer packaged goods. Before coming to Post, Adlam was managing director of Effective Brands where he was a global marketing consultant for companies such as Unilever, GSK and Novartis. Prior to this, Adlam developed and expanded markets in Asia as vice president of Marketing in the region for Danone. In China, Adlam oversaw the successful launch of Activia, which was a significant innovation in that market. His other accomplishments include leading brand turnarounds of Dannon and Trident gum in the United States. Adlam holds an MBA from Queen's University in Canada, and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto.
Skarie commented on the promotion Mr. Adlam, "In addition to his experience in the food and consumer packaged goods industries, Bart has demonstrated exceptional talent and leadership since he came to Post last year. I am confident that his expertise will be a major contribution to the future growth of our business, and we look forward to pursuing new and exciting initiatives at Post Foods."
From the August 16, 2010, Prepared Foods E-dition
