Foodservice equipment supplier The Middleby Corporation has announced the appointment of Brittany Cerwin as chief financial officer, effective immediately. Cerwin succeeds Bryan Mittelman, who has served as CFO since 2019 and will transition to the role of special advisor to the chief executive officer.

“Brittany has been an integral part of the Middleby corporate finance team since joining us fifteen years ago. Her financial expertise and exceptional leadership are highly respected across the organization,” says Tim FitzGerald, Middleby CEO. “Brittany has led the development of our global finance organization as it exists today, supporting our rapid growth as revenues increased threefold and earnings grew five times during her tenure. As part of the executive team since 2023, her deep knowledge of our business and broad financial acumen has been key to the successful execution of our companywide financial strategies and ongoing growth initiatives. As we complete our transformation into a pure-play commercial foodservice equipment leader, I have tremendous confidence in Brittany to drive continued financial excellence and to be a significant contributor to our future success.”

Cerwin joined Middleby in 2011 and has reportedly consistently taken on roles of increasing responsibility as she excelled within Middleby finance. As chief accounting officer, a position she assumed in 2023, she worked closely with the executive leadership team, overseeing and directing the financial reporting functions across all Middleby business units. Her role has been critical to the integration of acquisitions and the execution of growth initiatives, Middleby says. Prior to being named chief accounting officer, Cerwin served as corporate controller. Before joining Middleby, Cerwin was with Grant Thornton, LLP, Chicago. She holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in accounting from Bradley University, Peoria, IL.

“I’m excited to take on the CFO role during this pivotal time, as we build upon our strong foundation and position the company for continued future success. Middleby has always been a highly respected industry leader with a solid growth strategy and iconic brands, and I am confident our ongoing transformation will create long-term value,” says Cerwin. “I am committed to turning our financial goals into solid results, benefitting our employees, partners, and shareholders. I’ve seen the company evolve over the past decade and a half, and I believe this upcoming period will be one of the most transformational in Middleby’s history. I look forward to working with Tim and the entire Middleby team as we complete our strategic portfolio initiatives and focus on driving value as a pure-play commercial foodservice leader.”

In his role as special advisor, Mittelman will focus exclusively on the completion of the company’s portfolio transformation, including executing the previously announced spin-off of its Food Processing business, expected by the end of the second quarter of this year.

“I want to thank Bryan for his outstanding leadership and significant contributions to Middleby over the past seven years,” FitzGerald continues. “Bryan has been instrumental in strengthening our financial foundation and positioning the company for long-term success. His role as Special Advisor provides a seamless transition of the CFO role and allows us to dedicate his expertise and leadership entirely to completing our strategic portfolio transformation. In this capacity Bryan will have a critical role, partnering with Middleby Food Processing management to oversee the financial establishment of the new organization to ensure a successful spin-off that maximizes shareholder value.”

Related: Middleby names CEO, COO of spin-off business