Kraft Heinz has named Nicolas Amaya president of North America, effective Feb. 23.
Amaya will lead the Chicago-based company’s North America business, overseeing strategy, operations and performance across Kraft Heinz’s largest market. He most recently served as SVP and president of Kellanova North America, where he was a member of Kellanova’s executive committee.
Pedro Navio Steps Down
Pedro Navio, current president of North America, will step down Feb. 22 to pursue other opportunities. Over his eight years with the company, Navio led multiple businesses and helped position the company for the future. He will serve as an advisor to the company through March 6 to ensure a smooth transition.
The appointment comes one week after Kraft Heinz paused plans to split into two entities. CEO Steve Cahillane, also a former Kellanova executive, said the decision to halt the split was necessary due to deteriorating conditions in the food industry, though he called the challenges “fixable and within our control.”
Experience at Kellanova, Kellogg
“Kraft Heinz has an iconic portfolio of brands, a strong foundation for growth and a talented team in North America,” Amaya said.
Amaya started at Kellogg in 2001, marketing brands like Eggo and Pop-Tarts in the U.S. During his tenure with the company, he held leadership positions in U.S. and Latin America regions across the cereal, frozen and snacks businesses.
His previous roles included general manager of snacks and growth platforms for Latin America, general manager of category marketing and innovation for Latin America, and general manager of Mexico. He was named president of Kellogg Latin America in 2019, a position he held through the company’s 2023 separation that created Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co.
In January 2024, Amaya became president of Kellanova North America, succeeding Chris Hood. Mars acquired Kellanova in 2024, with Cahillane serving as CEO until the acquisition.
Prior to Kellogg, Amaya held various marketing roles at Unilever Andina in the personal care division. He is originally from Bogotá, Colombia, and received his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Universidad de los Andes and an MBA from Thunderbird, Garvin School of International Management.
[RELATED: Kraft Heinz Pauses Company Split, Commits $600M To Turnaround Plan]