Roger K. Deromedi

Lead Independent Director at Utz Brands

Roger K. Deromedi serves as Chairman of Utz. Mr. Deromedi has over 40 years of operational experience in the consumer goods sector, overseeing multiple businesses and iconic consumer brands. He co-founded and served as Co-Executive Chairman of Collier Creek Holdings, a special purpose acquisition company that became Utz Brands in August 2020. Mr. Deromedi was Independent Chairman and Lead Director of Pinnacle Foods from April 2016 to October 2018 and was Non-Executive Chairman from July 2009 to April 2016 and Executive Chairman from April 2007 to July 2009. Mr. Deromedi also was an advisor to Blackstone in relation to their acquisition of the company in April 2007. During Mr. Deromedi’s tenure, the company acquired and successfully integrated multiple businesses including Birds Eye Foods, Wishbone, Gardein, and Boulder Brands, consistently meeting or exceeding synergy targets. Additionally, from its initial public offering in March 2013 until the sale to Conagra Brands, Inc. in October 2018, the share price of Pinnacle Foods’s common stock increased by 233.3%, representing a 24.1% annualized return, or approximately 6.1x the increase in the S&P 500 Consumer Staples index and 3.2x the increase in the S&P 500 index over the same time period. From July 2013 to June 2015, Mr. Deromedi was an Executive Advisor for Blackstone in the consumer goods sector, and was an independent advisor to Blackstone from 2007 to 2013. From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Deromedi was Chief Executive Officer of Kraft. During this time, Mr. Deromedi integrated Kraft’s separate North American and International businesses. Prior to this, Mr. Deromedi was Co-CEO of Kraft from 2001 to 2003 during which time there was an initial public offering of the company, raising approximately $8.7 billion in gross proceeds. Mr. Deromedi previously served on the board of directors of Pinnacle Foods from 2007 to 2018, Kraft from 2001 to 2006 and The Gillette Company, Inc. from 2003 to 2005 (when the company was merged with The Procter & Gamble Company). Mr. Deromedi earned an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a B.A. in economics and mathematics from Vanderbilt University.

Timeline

  • Lead Independent Director

    Current role

  • Chairman