Rao's Specialty Foods Announces Leadership Change
Industry veterans Eric Skae and Jim Morano to lead company
NEW YORK, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Rao's Specialty Foods, Inc. announced today a change in leadership of the company. Food and beverage industry veteran Eric Skae has been named Chief Executive Officer and consumer products executive Jim Morano has been named President. Both executives will join Rao's Specialty Foods immediately.
Prior to joining Rao's Specialty Foods, Mr. Skae was Founder and CEO of The Bricktown Group, a change management consulting firm providing strategy, finance, sales and marketing and operations expertise to clients in the food, beverage and nutraceuticals industries. Prior to founding The Bricktown Group in 2012, Mr. Skae was Chairman and CEO of New Leaf Brands, Inc., a specialty iced tea company he founded in 2004. Under Mr. Skae's leadership New Leaf Brands, Inc. was sold throughout the United States, before Mr. Skae sold the company. Prior to founding New Leaf, Mr. Skae was owner and managing partner of Iceland Springs, a partnership with Egill Skallagrímsson the leading consumer goods company in Iceland; president and general manager of Fresh Solutions, Inc., managing the Eastern U.S. market and Director of Sales for Fresh Samantha, as well as various other positions within the food and beverage industry spanning his more than 25-year career.
Mr. Morano is a veteran in the consumer products industry with 37 years of experience. Most recently with L'Oreal Maybelline NY ~ Garnier, Jim held various positions as the C&S team leader, regional manager and leading the Dollar Channel. Prior to L'Oreal, Jim held various management positions at Crossmark from 2000 thru 2010. Mr. Morano led the Private Label in-house broker team at the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company supporting sales of $1.0 billion, division manager for the Mid-Atlantic, Ahold director of operations and senior vice president of Crossmark HBC Northeast. Prior to Crossmark, Mr. Morano was senior vice president and co-owner of Keystone Howley White until the company was acquired by Crossmark. Mr. Morano also held management positions at E&J Gallo Winery and Unilever early in his career.
"Rao's is an iconic brand with the best-selling super premium marinara sauce in the market," said Frank Pellegrino, Sr., the company's co-founder, chairman of the board and largest shareholder. "We are very excited about Eric and Jim joining Rao's Specialty Foods and driving the company forward into the next generation."
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SOURCE Rao's Specialty Foods, Inc.
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