Keystone Foods COO Larry McWilliams has assumed the company’s leadership role as president and CEO, succeeding Jerry Dean, who recently elected to retire after leading the company for 17 years.

McWilliams joined Keystone Foods, a customized foodservice distributor, in April 2011 from The Campbell Soup Company, where he was president of the international division. He brings extensive global experience in the food industry, and he has worked for some of the world’s most well-known consumer branded companies, including The Coca-Cola Company, Pillsbury, General Foods, and Del Monte.

“I’m thrilled to have joined Keystone Foods at this exciting time. Now part of Marfrig Group, Keystone Foods is even better positioned to serve customers around the world,” McWilliams says. “I look forward to putting my own experience to work for Marfrig and continuing to leverage Keystone Foods’ strength to create greater opportunities.”

McWilliams says he was attracted to Keystone because of the company’s solid reputation within the global food industry, as well as its position within the Marfrig Group.

McWilliams serves on the board of directors for Armstrong World Industries and has a Bachelor of Science in agricultural economics from Texas A & M University.

Dean retired from Keystone Foods after helping build the business into one of the world’s largest and most respected food companies. During his tenure, Keystone Foods’ sales more than quadrupled, and it has grown to be a global supply chain partner.

The company built or acquired more than 32 global facilities and now has operations at 55 locations around the world. Through this growth, 10,000 new jobs were created, bringing the number of Keystone Foods employees to more than 13,000 worldwide. Dean will continue to serve Keystone Foods in an advisory capacity.

Employee Management, News, Operations, Keystone Foods