DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. (AP) — Sara Lee Corp. is naming a Campbell Soup Co. executive to head up its North American retail and food service business, which is being split from the food maker's international coffee and tea business.
Sara Lee announced on Friday that Sean Connolly will serve as CEO of MeatCo, which is what the North American business will be called once it's separated from the beverages business. The separation will create two public companies and is expected to be completed during the second quarter.
Connolly succeeds Sara Lee CEO Marcel Smits, who has been running the North American business since September and steps down now that a permanent executive has been named.
The 46-year-old Connolly currently serves as president of Campbell North America. The soup maker has named 47-year-old Mark Alexander as his successor.