JACKSON, MI — Dawn Foods announced John Schmitz as COO, Americas — a newly created position for the global bakery manufacturer.
In this role, Schmitz will oversee Dawn’s North American business while taking on strategic accountability for Latin America. Schmitz will continue to serve on Dawn’s leadership team and report to CEO Carrie Jones-Barber.
Schmitz brings over 30 years of experience in the food and beverage industry to the role. He previously oversaw the North America ingredients business with a focus on product development and nationwide technology projects.
“John has been a driving force behind Dawn’s success in North America, demonstrating exceptional leadership and a clear strategic vision,” Jones-Barber said. “He has built a strong leadership team, delivered outstanding results and helped position us for long-term success. I am confident that his expertise and experience working throughout Mexico and Latin America will drive us to even greater success as he steps into this new role.”
Schmitz’s appointment to this role positions the company to bolster its growth, expand its market presence and continue its commitment to innovation in the baking industry.
“Dawn has an incredible legacy of leadership in the baking industry, and I look forward to continuing to build on our strong foundation,” Schmitz said. “Our Latin America business and team are exceptionally strong, and by fostering even closer collaboration between North America and Latin America, we will enhance our ability to serve our customers and deliver even greater value across both regions.”
Emilio Castillo will continue to serve as Dawn Foods’ president of Latin American business. Under his leadership, Dawn has had the most successful year in the company’s history. Castillo will be responsible for day-to-day operations for the region and report to Schmitz.
