Kraft Heinz Names Steve Cahillane CEO as It Prepares for Split

The leadership change comes as the U.S. food maker prepares to split into two publicly traded companies in 2026.

Steve Cahillane speaks at the Robin Hood Veterans Summit in New York City, on May 7, 2012. Craig Barritt/Getty Images

The Kraft Heinz Company on Dec. 16 named former Kellanova chief executive Steve Cahillane as its next CEO.

The leadership change comes as the multinational packaged-food maker moves toward a planned breakup in the second half of 2026, aimed at reviving growth and simplifying its business.

Kraft Heinz said in a statement that Cahillane will assume the role on Jan. 1, 2026, succeeding Carlos Abrams-Rivera.

Abrams-Rivera will step down at the start of the year and remain as an adviser through Mar. 6, 2026, to support the transition.

Cahillane will also join Kraft Heinz’s board of directors and serve as CEO of Global Taste Elevation Co., one of the two companies that will emerge from the planned separation.

Cahillane said on Dec. 16 that he was honored to join Kraft Heinz at what he described as a defining moment for the company.

“I’ve devoted my entire career to building brands, and the opportunity to do the same with Kraft Heinz’s iconic portfolio is a dream come true,” Cahillane said.

He added that he was confident the planned separation would sharpen the company’s competitive position.

Cahillane most recently served as chairman, president, and CEO of Kellanova, the global snacking company created after Kellogg Co. split its businesses. He led Kellanova until its acquisition by Mars Inc. in December 2025, Kraft Heinz said.

Track Record

During his tenure at Kellogg and later Kellanova, Cahillane oversaw the expansion of global brands including Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, and Kellogg’s international cereal business.

He also led Kellogg through the separation of its North American cereal unit, a transaction that executives have pointed to as a precedent for Kraft Heinz’s own restructuring.

Earlier in his career, Cahillane served as CEO of The Nature’s Bounty Co. beginning in 2014 and spent seven years at The Coca-Cola Company, most recently as president of Coca-Cola Americas, overseeing the beverage maker’s largest regional business. He previously held senior roles at brewer AB InBev.

Miguel Patricio, chair of the Kraft Heinz board, said on Dec. 16 that Cahillane’s experience made him well-suited to guide the company through its next phase.

Patricio also praised Abrams-Rivera, who has served as CEO since 2021, for reshaping the company and laying the groundwork for the breakup. Abrams-Rivera said earlier this year that the company was lowering its full-year outlook to reflect potential macroeconomic pressures, including tariffs and inflation.

Board Changes

As part of the transition, Kraft Heinz said on Dec. 16 that John T. Cahill, vice chair of the board and a former CEO of Kraft Foods before its 2015 merger with Heinz, will become board chair. Cahill will continue to lead the board’s separation committee, which was formed earlier this year to oversee the process.

Patricio will remain on the board, while directors will begin a global search for a CEO to lead North American Grocery Co., the second company that will result from the split.

“I want to express the board’s deep gratitude to Miguel for stepping in to help prepare the company and leadership team for the proposed separation,” Cahill said on Dec. 16. He added that he looked forward to taking on the chair role as Cahillane assumes leadership.

Sluggish Performance

Kraft Heinz first announced plans to split into two companies in a Sept. 2 statement, saying the move would allow each business to focus on distinct growth strategies.

The company has faced persistent sales declines since 2024, prompting pressure from investors to simplify its structure.

One of the future companies will house brands such as Heinz, Philadelphia, and Kraft Mac & Cheese, generating about $15.4 billion in net sales in 2024, with roughly three-quarters coming from sauces, spreads, and seasonings. The other company, focused on North American grocery staples including Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables, posted $10.4 billion in sales last year.

The separation was unanimously approved by Kraft Heinz’s board, the company said, and is intended to be tax-free for shareholders. The transaction remains subject to customary conditions, including regulatory filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.