Cargill Hires CMO Gitkin to Drive Customer Focus

Family-owned agricultural and industrial commodities giant Cargill has appointed CPG veteran Chuck Gitkin in the newly created role of CMO of its North America protein business - with a remit to help shift its focus to a customer-centric, insight-based strategy.

With 153,000 employees in 70 countries, and 2015 revenues of $120.4bn, Cargill is the largest privately held corporation in the US. The group's North America protein business produces fresh, frozen and cooked meats, sauces, soups, egg products, pet treats and other items for retail, foodservice and food manufacturing customers.

Gitkin (pictured), who joins mid-month, was previously SVP of Brands and Marketing for pork products company Smithfield Foods, and worked previously in marketing roles at McCain Foods, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Saks Fifth Avenue and Philip Morris. He spent almost nine years as a VP, Marketing at Unilever, leaving in February 2006. Gitkin has an undergraduate degree from Tulane University, and a Master's in Business Administration and International Business from New York University's Stern School of Business.

Brian Sikes, who as Corporate Vice President leads the Protein group, says its business is evolving fast, highly competitive and sees continuing increases in global demand. He comments: 'Chuck became the clear choice to lead our marketing transformation and implement our customer-centric and unified approach for promoting our protein portfolio. It's critical to have the right person leading this go-to-market transformation, someone who has a laser-like focus on our customers' channels and can ensure they are supported with a wealth of deep consumer insights and innovation to help them grow both their business and ours'.

Web site: www.cargill.com .