Utz Brands, Inc., a U.S. manufacturer of branded salty snacks, has announced that after 27 years with the company, Dylan Lissette, currently chief executive officer, will be appointed executive chairman of the board, effective December 15. At that time, Howard Friedman, currently chief operations officer of Post Holdings, Inc., will join the company as chief executive officer and serve as a member of the Utz board. Commensurate with these appointments, Roger Deromedi, current chairman of the board, will become Lead Independent Director. Mr. Lissette will transition to the role of non-executive chairman of the board in the second quarter of 2023.
This leadership transition was initially contemplated at the time of the merger between Collier Creek Holdings and Utz and is a natural next step as Utz continues to develop as a public company. The search for the next CEO of Utz included the consideration of both internal and external candidates, leading to the identification of Friedman as an ideal successor to Lissette, with the right CPG experience and expertise to lead the company as it accelerates its proven growth strategy.