New senior appointments at Rich Products

February 15, 2012, Buffalo, NY – Rich Products Corporation has transitioned from its dual business group structure – North America and International – to one global organization consisting of five regional businesses.

Rich's regional businesses are: Asia/Pacific, Europe/Middle East, Latin America, South Africa, and U.S./Canada.

Consistent with this shift, the North America business group has become the U.S./Canada region, which will now be co-led by Rich’s veterans Ray Burke and Jack Kilgore. The U.S./Canada region is comprised of five divisions: foodservice, in-store bakery, consumer brands, ingredients and Canada.
 
Burke, president of Rich’s foodservice and in-store bakery divisions, will continue to lead these businesses, while also assuming oversight of Rich’s ingredients division. Kilgore, president of the consumer brands division, will oversee the Canada division while continuing to have primary accountability for the consumer brands and the company’s global quality function.
 
In alignment with the new organizational structure, regional steering teams have been formed to drive customer-focused plans that deliver results for Rich’s in all areas where it does business. With their new roles, Burke and Kilgore will co-lead the U.S./Canada team overseeing governance of the region.
 
Burke’s tenure at Rich’s began in 1981 in the company’s management development program. He was named vice-president of sales and marketing for Rich’s in-store bakery division in 1992 and five years later was promoted to president of that division. In 2008, Burke added another leadership position to his role when he became president of Rich’s foodservice division.
 
Kilgore, a 33-year veteran of Rich’s, began his career with Rich’s in 1978 when he became a sales and marketing administrator, acting as the liaison between the company’s senior leaders in Buffalo, N.Y., and the consumer brands division located on St. Simons Island, Ga. After serving in the roles of regional, division and national sales manager, Kilgore was named president of the consumer brands division in 2004.
 
“As highly respected members of the industry, Ray and Jack bring a wealth of expertise to their expanded leadership roles for our U.S./Canada division,” said Richard Ferranti, executive vice-president and chief operating officer, Rich Products Corporation. “I am confident that Rich’s will reap great rewards from these strong leaders, who have earned the trust and respect of our shareholders, customers and fellow associates.”
 
Burke and Kilgore also will join other key executives as members of the Global Leadership Council (GLC), chaired by Ferranti. The GLC is responsible for the alignment of the company’s strategic priorities across the boundaries of its regional businesses and has primary responsibility for the execution of Rich’s global strategies and standards. Through the GLC, Rich’s will develop and implement opportunities to leverage its functional capabilities and unique skills across the organization’s global footprint.