Saputo appoints new CEO

Saputo’s Lino A. Saputo, chair of the board, president, and CEO, has indicated his intention to transit from his current position to the role of executive chair of the board.

This change, effective from the upcoming annual general meeting on August 9, 2024, will facilitate strategic oversight and drive value creation for the company.

In this transition, Carl Colizza, currently president and COO of North America, has been appointed as the new president and CEO of Saputo.

Since joining Saputo in 1998, Colizza has held key leadership positions in engineering, operations, business development and strategy. He was appointed president and COO of the Dairy Division (Canada) in 2015 before taking on the role of President and COO (North America) in 2019.

“As I will be transitioning to the position of Executive Chair, my role will shift into a new capacity more focused on strategic oversight, continuing to promote the Saputo vision and values, and supporting the leadership team. As the company’s largest shareholder, Jolina Capital is committed to Saputo for the long-term, and we fully support Carl’s nomination as president and CEO,” said Saputo.

Saputo further praised Colizza saying, “Carl is an extraordinary business leader who is well-respected across our industry and has a strong track record of leading global teams. He has deep roots within Saputo and has played a pivotal role in developing our strategy and improving our business.”

“I am honoured to lead Saputo and our talented team with Lino’s support, building upon the foundation we have established over the past seven decades. For over 25 years, I have had the privilege of working alongside Lino, whose commitment to Saputo’s culture, our people, and the communities we serve is truly extraordinary. I am excited to continue advancing Saputo’s business and delivering on the incredible opportunities we see ahead,” Colizza said.

Following the transition, Colizza will continue to execute the functions of president and COO North America) for the time being. Anthony Fata will continue to serve as independent lead director.