Dawn Foods names new North American president

Global bakery manufacturer and ingredients supplier Dawn Foods announced on Thursday, December 19 that John Schmitz has been hired as the company’s newly appointed President of North America. Schmitz will join Dawn’s leadership team January 6, 2020 and will and report directly to Chief Executive Officer Carrie Jones-Barber.

“As we approach our 100th anniversary, our people continue to remain at the forefront of our success,” says Jones-Barber. “John – a proven leader known for organizing his teams around a shared vision – will be an instrumental addition to our executive team. His energy and passion for problem solving, combined with his commitment to customer success, will be critical to unlocking the fresh, innovative thinking required to deliver our vision of Inspiring Bakery Success Every Day.”

John Schmitz has more than 25 years of leadership experience, including more than 12 years at Land O’Lakes, where he served as Vice President for International. He will play a crucial role in ensuring Dawn’s people, products, and investments deliver long-term growth and advance the company’s forward-looking strategy.

Schmitz will work hand-in-hand with Dawn’s digital innovation team in Boston to ensure the company provides the right end-to-end experience to support its customers’ business demands and long-term growth.

“Dawn Foods has a tremendous legacy and an even brighter future ahead,” says Schmitz. “We have the right ingredients in place to continue to innovate and lay a strong foundation for the company’s next 100 years. I am eager to roll up my sleeves, dig in with the rest of the Dawn team, and evolve our business model to ensure we are best positioned to serve our customers and the industry for years to come.”