William R. Johnson

Former President and CEO, H.J. Heinz Company

Independent Director since: 2009

Board Committees

  • Nominating and Corporate Governance (Chair)
  • Executive

Select Skills and Experiences

  • Consumer / Retail: Through his career-long experience at Heinz, including 15 years as President and CEO, Bill played a pivotal role in that company’s growth and transformation, strengthening its market position through strategic acquisitions and restructuring its global brand portfolio. Under his leadership, the company achieved significant sales growth across six continents.
  • Global / International: Bill led multiple international divisions of Heinz, including operations in the Asia-Pacific, spanning Australia, New Zealand, China, Thailand and South Korea. He oversaw several international strategic acquisitions, significantly expanding that company’s global presence and driving international revenue growth.
  • Human Capital Management: While overseeing global operations at Heinz, Bill executed talent strategies that supported that company’s international expansion, fostered a high-performance culture, built a diverse global talent pipeline, enhanced retention strategies and effectively managed labor relations. As a Board Member he was also instrumental in establishing and building Sovos Brands into a high growth consumer packaged foods company.

Professional Highlights

Advent International Corporation, a global private equity firm

  • Operating Partner, Global Retail and Consumer (since 2014)

Trian Fund Management, L.P., an investment management firm

  • Advisory Partner (2015-2017)

H.J. Heinz Company, a global foods manufacturer

  • President and CEO (1998-2013) and Chairman (2000-2013)
  • President and COO (1996-1998)
  • SVP, Asia-Pacific Operations (1993–1996)
  • Additional roles of increasing responsibility (1982-1993)

Additional management roles with progressive scope of responsibilities:

  • Drackett (a specialty consumer household products company)
  • Ralston Purina (an animal and pet food, consumer products holding company)
  • Anderson-Clayton (a commodities trading company)
William R. Johnson
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