Providence, Rhode Island-based UNFI has appointed Chris Finck as its new president of the Atlantic Region, effective May 1. His promotion will fill the vacancy left by Mark Bushway’s promotion to chief supply chain officer in January.
Finck will lead the Atlantic Region sales team with accountability to support customers with UNFI’s full portfolio of comprehensive products and services. Finck will report to Steve Dietz, UNFI chief customer officer.
Finck joins UNFI after 34 years of commercial, sales, marketing, operations and general management experience. Over the past five years, Finck has served as chief commercial officer for Dean Foods and chief customer officer at Treehouse Foods. At both companies, he played a leadership role in broker network and contract management, go-to-market organization and improving customer profitability.
Prior to his work at Treehouse Foods, Finck spent time at Grupo Bimbo as chief customer officer and Sara Lee as SVP of sales of bakery division.
“Chris is a well-rounded, highly passionate and results-driven leader with a strong track record for building effective teams and delivering strategic sales capabilities,” Dietz said. “With his leadership background and significant experience in the food industry, Chris understands the challenges facing today’s marketplace and, along with the Atlantic Region team, will provide innovative and meaningful solutions that help our customers grow and succeed.”
Prior to his work at Grupo Bimbo SAV, Finck spent nearly 20 years with Pepsi Co., holding positions such as account manager, regional sales manager and market development manager for Pepsi Beverages; director of strategic planning and integration for Quaker Oats; and VP of U.S. sales for Gatorade.
Finck has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Towson University and an MBA from Loyola College. In addition to his work in the food industry, he serves on the mayor’s advisory board for the city of Naperville, Illinois; is a member of the board of directors for Little Friends, which provides services to those with autism and other developmental disabilities; and has previously served as chairman of the board of directors for the Downtown Naperville Alliance.
UNFI is a food wholesaler delivering the widest variety of products to customer locations throughout North America, including natural product superstores, independent retailers, conventional supermarket chains, e-commerce retailers and food service customers.
To learn more, visit unfi.com.
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