CAMDEN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Campbell Soup Company (NYSE: CPB) announced today that its Board of Directors has elected Les Vinney to succeed Paul Charron as Chairman of the Board, effective Nov. 1, 2015.
Vinney, 66, has been a director of Campbell since 2003. He retired as President and CEO of STERIS Corporation, a leading provider of medical supplies. After joining STERIS Corporation in 1999 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Vinney served as President and Chief Executive Officer from 2000 to 2007. From 2007 to 2009, he served as a Senior Advisor to STERIS. Prior to this, Vinney was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Goodrich Corporation. Earlier, he held positions with Engelhard Corporation and Exxon Corporation. He has been a director of Patterson Companies, Inc. since 2008 and served on the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland from 2005 through 2010.
Paul Charron, 73, joined the Campbell Board in 2003 and has served as Chairman since 2009. He was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Liz Claiborne Inc. from 1996 until his retirement in 2006. Earlier, Charron held positions at Procter & Gamble and General Foods.
Commenting on Vinney’s election, Charron said, “With more than a decade of service on Campbell’s Board, Les Vinney brings deep knowledge of Campbell’s business and its strategies to the role of Chairman. His strategic, operational and financial expertise will continue to be an asset to the Board and to Campbell shareholders.”
Vinney said, “I am honored to serve as Chairman of one of America’s most iconic companies, with a Board long recognized for its strong corporate governance practices. I look forward to working with Denise Morrison, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and my fellow directors as we continue to reshape Campbell.”
“Paul’s leadership and counsel during his six years as Chairman have been instrumental in helping to shift our company’s center of gravity. He has made many important contributions during his 12 years of service on the Campbell Board and provided exemplary leadership during a critical period in our company’s history,” said Morrison. “We are pleased that we have a strong and capable business leader in Les Vinney to succeed Paul as Chairman. I look forward to working with him as we continue to unlock our purpose, performance and potential by pursuing Campbell’s growth strategies and reshaping our company for the future.”
About Campbell Soup Company
Campbell (NYSE:CPB) is driven and inspired by our Purpose, “Real food that matters for life’s moments.” The company makes a range of high-quality soups and simple meals, beverages, snacks and packaged fresh foods. For generations, people have trusted Campbell to provide authentic, flavorful and readily available foods and beverages that connect them to each other, to warm memories, and to what’s important today. Led by its iconic Campbell’s brand, the company’s portfolio includes Pepperidge Farm, Bolthouse Farms, Arnott’s, V8, Swanson, Pace, Prego, Plum, Royal Dansk, Kjeldsens and Garden Fresh Gourmet. Founded in 1869, Campbell has a heritage of giving back and acting as a good steward of the planet’s natural resources. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. For more information, visit www.campbellsoupcompany.com or follow company news on Twitter via @CampbellSoupCo.
