DALLAS (AP) -- Dean Foods Co., the nation's leading distributor of milk and dairy products, said Friday it has appointed Greg McKelvey to the newly created position of chief strategy and transformation officer, effective immediately.
Dean Chairman and Chief Executive Gregg L. Engles said McKelvey will help the company transform and integrate its businesses and work on its strategic growth plan. McKelvey also will serve as executive vice president.
McKelvey comes to the post from WhiteWave, Dean's subsidiary which controls brands like Silk soy milk, Horizon organic products and International Delight coffee creamers.
Dean, like other food companies, has been hurt by high commodity costs lately. Earlier this month it announced its third-quarter profit rose sharply, helped by lower interest expenses, but the results missed analyst expectations partly because of the commodity costs.
Shares of Dean Foods rose $1.08, or 7.7 percent, to $15.09 in morning trading. The stock has ranged from $13.45 to $29.23 over the past year.
