American Brands Shuffles Staff
erican Brands here has announced a series of top management changes effective Jan. 1, 1995.
Thomas C. Hays, 59, has been elected chairman and chief executive officer. He had been president and chief operating officer since 1988, a member of the executive committee since 1987 and a director since 1981.
He succeeds William J. Alley, who is retiring. Alley continues as chairman of the executive committee.
John T. Ludes, 58, has been elected president and chief operating officer, succeeding Hays. He has also been named to the board and to the executive committee. Ludes has been group vice president since 1988, and chairman and chief executive officer of American Brands International since 1990.
Arnold Henson, 63, is retiring as executive vice president and chief financial officer. He is being succeeded by Dudley L. Bauerlein Jr., 47, who was previously vice president and treasurer.
Mark Hausberg, 45, has been named treasurer, succeeding Bauerlein. He was deputy treasurer.
Steven C. Mendenhall, 46, has been named senior vice president and chief administrative officer. He has been vice president and chief administrative officer since July 1993.
American Brands is a major consumer products company. Its subsidiaries include American Tobacco Co., Gallaher Tobacco in Great Britain, MasterBrand hardware and lock products and leading liquor brands including Jim Bean and Old Grand-Dad bourbons, DeKuyper and Leroux cordials, Windsor and Lord Calvert Canadian whiskies, Gibley's gin, Ronrico rum and Wolfschmidt and Vladivar vodkas.
American Home Names Sales VP
MADISON, N.J. -- American Home Food Products here has named Edward Kuehnle executive vice president of sales and marketing, a new position. Kuehnle oversees the management of worldwide sales and marketing, international acquisitions and joint ventures. His previous position as senior vice president of sales will not be filled. In that position he headed sales efforts encompassing consumer, food service, international, special markets and acquisitions.
Kuehnle reports to Charles LaRosa, president of American Home Food Products.
American Home Food Products is a subsidiary of American Home Products Corp. here. Its leading brands include Chef Boyardee prepared pastas, Pam cooking sprays, Polaner jellies, Gulden's mustards, Franklin Crunch'N Munch, Jiffy Pop, Wheatena and Maypo hot cereals. Regional brands include Dennison's chili, Luck's Country Style Foods, Ranch Style beans and Ro*tel canned tomatoes and green chilies.
Ocean Spray Taps Sales Chief
LAKEVILLE-MIDDLEBORO, Mass. -- Ocean Spray Cranberries here has named Kenneth L. Curchin national field sales manager, retail. The company declined to say whom he succeeds.
Curchin is responsible for Ocean Spray's grocery volume, including all juice and cranberry sauce products. He reports to John Emerson, vice president of retail sales.
Most recently, Curchin was vice president of customer marketing for Tropicana Products. He has held managerial sales positions with Dole, ConAgra Frozen Foods and Colgate-Palmolive.
Borden Names Morris Group VP
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Borden here has named George P. Morris president of North American Pasta Products, and group vice president of Borden. He succeeds Russell S. Mentzer, who has resigned from the company.
Morris will be responsible for Borden's pasta and pasta sauce business in North America. The business includes Creamette and Catelli pasta, the number one brands in the U.S. and Canada, respectively; as well as regional pasta brands that include Prince, R-F, Ronco, Globe A-1, Merlino's and the new Classico premium pasta imported from Italy. Sauces include Classico and Aunt Millie's. At Borden, Morris' most recent position was vice president and chief strategic officer.
He joined Borden in 1993 after 21 years with Kraft General Foods and predecessor General Foods, White Plains, N.Y., where he served most recently as group executive of the Maxwell House Coffee Co. division. Morris reports to Ervin R. Shames, Borden president and chief executive officer.
