As Two Executives Announce Retirement, Rich Products Joins Leadership Team and Sets Ground for Transformational Change

BUFFALO, NY – Two senior executives who contribute to Rich Products (Rich’s) are passing the baton to a new generation of leaders in a carefully orchestrated transition that leverages their significant contributions to the 76-year-old global family food business and paves the way for the future. path of transformational change. President and COO, U.S.-Canada Region Ray Burke will retire on December 31, 2021, followed by Executive Vice President and CFO Jim Deuschle on March 31, 2022.

“Ray, Jim and I have known each other for most of our professional careers and I am immeasurably proud of their leadership and all they have done to create the position of strength that Rich Products operates from today.” Rich President and CEO Richard Ferranti said. “Their focus, discipline and vision have been critical to our ability to emerge from the pandemic with a strong global business, a healthy balance sheet, a diverse portfolio and aggressive growth plans. “

Kevin Spratt has been promoted to President of the US-Canada region and David Faturos has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. Dave Cowperthwait will join the leadership team as Executive Vice President, Director of Supply Chain, a newly created role at Rich’s. Beyond the core leadership team, Rich’s announced a number of additional leadership changes, including Lauren Lopez, who has been promoted to senior vice president of the foodservice division. In addition, Rich’s announced the creation of a new transformation office, which will be overseen by Georgia Dachille, executive vice president responsible for innovation, strategy and transformation, and led by Kristin Alongi, who has was appointed Vice President, Business Transformation. This office will be responsible for creating an organized and focused governance strategy and process around the organization’s portfolio, productivity and digital transformation initiatives.

Outgoing leaders leave a combined legacy of 67 years

Ray burke’s Rich’s contributions as President and COO of U.S.-Canada business culminate in a 40-year career at Rich’s, during which he rose through the ranks to lead the consumer brand divisions, foodservice, in-store bakery, deli and ingredients, as well as its demand creation and all category business unit teams. Burke was also an executive sponsor of Rich’s workplace inclusion advisory team.

A graduate of the University of Buffalo, Burke joined Rich’s in 1981 as part of the company’s executive education program. He is a member of the American Bakers Association and was president of the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association for two terms.

Outgoing Chief Financial Officer Jim Deuschle led Rich’s financial leadership, planning, reporting and information systems while overseeing the global supply chain and enterprise risk management teams. He brought to his position extensive experience in the management of all financial groups, strategic business planning, risk assessment and internal investments and acquisitions. Deuschle joined Rich’s in 1994 after leaving EY (then Ernst & Young).

New York State Certified Public Accountant, Deuschle received an Executive MBA from the University of Buffalo and a BA in Accounting from Canisius College. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School Executive Management Program. He is Treasurer of the West Buffalo Charter School and is a member of the Canisius College Council of Accountancy, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Emerging leaders to form new leadership team on January 1

Kevin Spratt, President, US-Canada Region

A 20-year veteran of Rich’s, Spratt was named Senior Vice President, Group Retail Chains in 2020, expanding his leadership to include all U.S.-Canada business-to-business divisions, including foodservice, in-store baking and retailing. Deli — Direct Chains and Small and Medium Retailers, Direct Store Delivery (DSD), Ingredients and Canada. Known for developing strong teams and fostering and building relationships within the organization and industry, Spratt has a proven track record of succeeding Burke.

David Faturos, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Currently Senior Vice President of Finance and Business Development, Faturos has led global financial excellence under Deuschle’s leadership and has been instrumental in Rich’s growth through acquisition strategy over the past five years. His personal development over the 27 years at Rich’s made him uniquely qualified to succeed Deuschle as CFO. A New York State certified public accountant, Faturos holds an MBA in finance and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Canisius College.

Dave Cowperthwait, Executive Vice President, Chief Supply Chain Officer
Taking on a new role at Rich’s, Cowperthwait will be responsible for leading Rich’s transformation into a digitally-driven supply chain organization, leveraging the company’s infrastructure, technology and global people. He joined Rich’s in 2017 after senior leadership roles at McCain Foods and Kellogg’s and currently serves as Senior Vice President, Global Supply Chain. Cowperthwait holds an MBA from the University of Shippensburg in Pennsylvania and a BA from Pennsylvania State University.

A new leader in catering

Lauren Lopez, Senior Vice President of the Food Service Division
For the past 10 years, Lopez has led and shaped the dessert businesses for Rich’s. Known for her drive and results, Lopez will use her passion for business and her general management skills to lead Rich’s foodservice division into the future. Lopez holds an MBA in Finance, International Management, and Consulting from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a BA from SUNY’s Geneseo Campus. Like Burke, Lopez joined Rich Products as part of his management training program.

The pace of digital change is driving the new transformation office

As the new leadership team takes shape, Rich’s has called on Georgia Dachille and Kristin alongi to lead its new Transformation Office. As Executive Vice President, Director of Innovation, Strategy and Transformation, Dachille, a 30-year veteran of Rich’s, will broaden her scope to include corporate strategic planning and leadership transformational change. This is in addition to his ongoing oversight of global research and development, Rich Products Ventures, and external innovation.

Reporting to Dachille, Alongi has assumed the new role of Vice President, Business Transformation and is responsible for the global process, a key part of the transformation effort and ongoing business operations for the future. Alongi joined Rich’s in 2010 and most recently was vice president of corporate governance and strategic planning.

Together, Dachille and Alongi will lead a team tasked with driving transformational change in Rich’s business processes, technology and culture, creating a fully networked organization with common goals and an entrepreneurial mindset. The new Transformation Office was created to respond to the impacts of technological advancements on everything from consumer expectations and demands to the continued need for increased speed and productivity. Its solutions will ensure the sustainability of Rich’s business, enabling exceptional growth, productivity and strategic capability development into the future.

MEET THE RICH.
Rich’s, also known as Rich Products Corporation, is a family-owned food business dedicated to inspiring possibilities. From cakes and icings to pizzas, appetizers and special toppings, our products are used in homes, restaurants and bakeries around the world. Beyond great food, our customers also get information to help them stay competitive, regardless of their size. Our portfolio includes creative solutions designed to help food industry professionals compete in foodservice, retail, in-store baking, deli and prepared foods, among others. Working at 100 locations worldwide, with annual sales exceeding $ 4 billion, Rich’s is a global leader focused on everything the family makes possible. Rich’s® — Endless Possibilities. A family.