The Kraft Heinz Co., maker of Planters peanuts and other brands, has announced the appointment of Nicolas Amaya as president, North America, effective Feb. 23. In this role, Amaya will lead the company’s North America business, overseeing strategy, operations, and performance across Kraft Heinz’s largest market. Pedro Navio, current president, North America, will step down on Feb. 22 to pursue other opportunities. To ensure a smooth transition, Navio will serve as an advisor to the company through March 6.

“Kraft Heinz has an iconic portfolio of brands, a strong foundation for growth and a talented team in North America,” said Amaya. “The opportunity ahead to modernize these brands for today’s consumer is huge, and we’re making the right investments to do so. I’m excited to join the team and deliver.”

Amaya brings extensive global and North American leadership experience across the CPG industry, with a track record of driving profitable growth by strengthening brand portfolios and building strong relationships with key customers and partners. Most recently, he served in senior executive roles at Kellanova, where he reportedly played a key role in advancing the company’s commercial strategy, operational performance, and organizational transformation. He is recognized for his customer-centric approach, disciplined execution, and ability to build high-performing teams, Kraft Heinz says. Prior to Kellogg, Amaya held various marketing roles at Unilever Andina in the personal care division.

Amaya is from Bogotá, Colombia. He received his Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from Universidad de los Andes, and a Master of Business Administration from Thunderbird, Garvin School of International Management.

“Nico is a proven leader with deep experience driving growth and transformation in complex, competitive markets,” says Steve Cahillane, CEO for Kraft Heinz. “As we continue to transform and build momentum across our North America business, Nico brings the right combination of commercial rigor, operational excellence, and people leadership to accelerate that progress. I worked closely with Nico for many years at Kellogg and Kellanova, and I have great confidence in his ability to lead our North America business as we focus on returning Kraft Heinz to profitable growth.”

Kraft Heinz Co. is on the current Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery “Top 50 Snack & Bakery Companies” list. Click here to view the current “Top 50” rankings.