Utz Brands Inc. has appointed William “B.J.” Werzyn Jr. to its board of directors, replacing Michael “Mike” W. Rice, who retired from his position on Aug. 20. Rice will continue to participate in board activities as an observer.
Rice served Utz in numerous roles in a career that spanned more than 50 years. He joined the family business in 1968, and became EVP in 1970, president and CEO in 1978 and chairperson and CEO in 1992. In 2012, Rice turned the day-to-day senior leadership for the then family-owned company to Dylan Lissette, a fourth-generation family member through marriage. Utz became a publicly traded company in 2020, after which Rice served as a director and chairperson emeritus on Utz’s board of directors.
During his tenure, Rice is credited for diversifying the company with pretzels, cheese curls and other salty snack food subcategories, expanding Utz’s capabilities and capacity, while also leading the company’s accelerated geographic expansion beyond Utz’s Central Pennsylvania and Maryland roots.
“Mike is a true Utz icon whose contributions to the company are too numerous to count,” said Howard Friedman, Utz CEO.
“What was always clear was Mike’s treatment of the associates of this company as family. His legacy as one of the true architects of Utz’s amazing success will forever live on. We are thrilled that Mike will continue to participate with guidance and insight to the Utz board in an observer capacity.”
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Werzyn Jr. is the executive chairman, founder and CEO of West Shore Home LLC. He has served as CEO of West Shore Home LLC since 2006, and also has served as the company’s executive chairman since October 2020. West Shore is one of the largest direct-to-consumer home remodelers in the nation, with more than 41 locations in 21 states. West Shore employs more than 3,000 people and has annual revenue of more than $750 million.
“The board is thrilled to have identified B.J. Werzyn, a Pennsylvania native and business leader, as the replacement for Mike’s board seat,” said Lissette, board chair. “B.J.’s entrepreneurial background and his technology experience, combined with his business acumen, will be an invaluable addition to our board.”
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