Campbell Soup names Douglas Conant to head the company

Campbell Soup Company (Camden, NJ) has named Douglas Conant president and CEO and a director of the company, effective today. Conant, replaces interim CEO David Johnson, who returned to his former role as CEO after Dale Morrison resigned in March. (See earlier article).

Conant was most recently president of Nabisco Foods Company. He becomes the Campbell Soup's 11th leader in its 132-year history.

Conant brings 25 years of experience with three leading food companies -- Nabisco, Philip Morris Companies, Inc. (Kraft) and General Mills, Inc. He was president of Nabisco Foods Company, the snack and condiments division of Nabisco, Inc., since July 1995.

Philip Lippincott, Campbell's chairman, said, "Doug Conant's track record is outstanding. He has made his mark strongly on the top and bottom line of every operation he's led -- setting a standard for success in the food industry. He's a tested leader who wins with brands in the market and with people in the organizations he leads."

Conant remarked, "Campbell is a premier company with a rich history of success. I am delighted to have the opportunity to help create a successful future by delivering premier results. We will set a standard of execution excellence to make a positive and powerful difference for shareholders, consumers and employees. Expect action."

"The selection of Doug Conant to lead Campbell Soup Company is the result of a rigorous and extensive search process," Lippincott said. "Doug's exceptional experience and record of delivering strong results met the Board's stringent performance criteria and high expectations of leadership excellence."

Conant began his career in 1976 in marketing at General Mills. In 1986 he moved to Kraft Foods where he was Vice President of Strategy for Kraft USA and Vice President of Marketing and Strategy for Kraft's Grocery Products Division. A Chicago native, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the J.L. Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern.

Campbell Soup Company is the world's largest maker and marketer of soup. Among its other strong food brands are ``Pepperidge Farm'' cookies and crackers, ``V8'' and ``V8 Splash'' juices, ``Pace'' Mexican sauces, ``Prego'' pasta sauces, ``Swanson'' broths, ``Homepride'' sauces in the United Kingdom, ``Arnott's'' biscuits in Australia and ``Godiva'' chocolates around the world.

Edited by Pam Ahlberg,
Managing Editor, Food Online