Top 10: CEOs in Food

CEOs of food companies are navigating a period of profound transformation as global brands respond to shifting consumer expectations, sustainability pressures and supply chain volatility.

From nutrition and reformulation to digitalisation and responsible sourcing, leadership in the food sector now demands both operational rigour and long-term vision.

Today’s CEOs must balance growth with purpose, driving performance while addressing health, climate and social impact at scale.

As competition intensifies across categories from snacking to staples, strategic clarity and execution have never been more critical.

Food & Drink Digital ranks the top CEOs, based on their company's revenue, shaping the future of the global food industry through innovation, resilience and responsible leadership.

10. Jeff Harmening

Jeff Harmening is Chairman and CEO of General Mills, overseeing a global food business with more than 30,000 employees and a portfolio of iconic brands including Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs and Blue Buffalo.

He joined the company in 1994 and has held senior leadership roles across retail, supply chain and international operations.

Under Jeff’s leadership, General Mills has reshaped its portfolio, expanded into pet food and strengthened its digital and sustainability strategy.

He holds degrees from DePauw University and Harvard Business School.

9. Steve Cahillane

Steve Cahillane is CEO of Kraft Heinz, appointed to lead the company from January 2026 and to join its board.

He brings more than 30 years of global food and beverage experience, most recently serving as Chairman, President and CEO of Kellanova.

Steve previously held senior leadership roles at The Nature’s Bounty Co, The Coca-Cola Company and AB InBev.

He has led major brand portfolios and complex corporate separations and holds degrees from Northwestern University and Harvard Business School.

8. George Weston

George Weston is Chief Executive of Associated British Foods, a role he has held since April 2005, having joined the Board in 1999.

Educated at Oxford with an MBA from Harvard, he has held senior leadership roles across the group, including Managing Director of Westmill Foods, Allied Bakeries and George Weston Foods in Australia.

A grandson of Garfield Weston, George is a Trustee of the Garfield Weston Foundation, the British Museum and a Non-Executive Director of Wittington Investments Limited.

7. Antoine de Saint-Affrique

Antoine de Saint-Affrique is CEO of Danone and a member of the company’s board.

A graduate of ESSEC Business School with executive education from Harvard Business School, he has built a global career across food and consumer goods.

Antoine held senior leadership roles at Unilever before serving as CEO of Barry Callebaut.

As well as CEO of Danone, he also serves as a non-executive board member at Saint-Gobain and Burberry.

6. Dirk Van de Put

Dirk Van de Put is Chairman and CEO of Mondelēz International, where he has led the company’s purpose-led growth and sustainability strategy since 2017.

He joined from McCain Foods, where he served as CEO and drove strong organic growth.

Earlier, Dirk held senior leadership roles at Danone and Novartis, and spent his early career at Mars and The Coca-Cola Company across Europe and Latin America.

He holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Ghent and a postgraduate business degree from the University of Antwerp.

5. Poul Weihrauch

Poul is CEO and President of Mars, bringing more than 20 years of experience with the company.

A member of the Mars Leadership Team since 2011, he has worked across Petcare, Snacking and Food & Nutrition.

Previously President of Mars Petcare, Poul led its evolution into a broader petcare business.

He began his career at Stimorol and later held roles at Nestlé. Poul holds a BSc in business economics, an MBA and studied international marketing at Strathclyde.

4. Donnie King

Donnie King is President and CEO of Tyson Foods, leading a global workforce of more than 139,000 people across more than 150 facilities.

A Tyson veteran since 1982, he has held senior roles across Poultry, Fresh Meats, Prepared Foods and International operations.

Formerly Chief Operating Officer and President of the International Business Group, Donnie helped expand the company’s global footprint.

He is a board member of the National Chicken Council and holds a business management degree from the University of Arkansas-Monticello.

3. Fernando Fernandez

Fernando Fernandez is CEO of Unilever, bringing more than 30 years of experience across one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies.

He joined Unilever in 1988, beginning his career in Argentina before progressing through senior roles spanning finance, supply chain, marketing and general management.

Fernando previously served as CFO and as President of Unilever’s Beauty & Wellbeing business, one of the group’s fastest-growing divisions.

He has led major markets including Brazil, the Philippines and the wider Latin American region, delivering strong financial performance while developing leadership talent.

Fernando holds a degree in economics from the University of Buenos Aires.

2. Ramon Laguarta 

Ramon Laguarta is CEO of PepsiCo, leading one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies with a portfolio of global brands spanning snacks and drinks.

He joined PepsiCo in 1996 and progressed through senior leadership roles including President of Developing Markets, CEO of Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa and President of PepsiCo, before becoming CEO in 2018.

Ramon has reshaped the business through pep+, PepsiCo’s end-to-end transformation strategy, placing sustainability, performance and long-term value creation at its core.

His leadership focuses on portfolio transformation, international expansion and capturing new consumption occasions, supported by operational excellence and digital investment.

Prior to PepsiCo, Ramon worked at Chupa Chups, managing growth across multiple regions.

Born in Barcelona, he holds an MBA from ESADE and a master’s degree from Thunderbird and brings a global perspective shaped by living and working across five continents.

1. Philipp Navratil

Philipp Navratil is CEO of Nestlé, bringing more than two decades of experience across the company’s global operations.

He joined Nestlé in 2001 as an international auditor and has since held senior leadership roles spanning Central America, Latin America and Europe.

Philipp served as Country Manager for Nestlé Honduras before leading the coffee and beverage business in Mexico.

He later became Senior Vice President and Head of Nestlé’s Coffee Strategic Business Unit, shaping global strategy and innovation for the Nescafé and Starbucks brands.

Prior to his current position, Philipp led Nespresso as CEO and joined the Nestlé Executive Board.

Known for his collaborative and inclusive leadership style, he combines deep market insight with a strong focus on performance and innovation.

Philipp holds an MBA from the University of St Gallen and has built his career by inspiring teams in complex and competitive markets worldwide.