Conagra ups Tim Lute
Conagra Brands has promoted Tim Lute, a longtime Coca-Cola marketer and former Sapsucker CEO, to vice president of customer and commercial leadership organization.
Lute previously worked as the CPG’s vice president of commercial strategy, insights and transformation, joining Conagra in 2022.
He recently presided over a 2023 five-brand shopper marketing campaign for Conagra, an effort to drive interest in holiday meal-time prep solutions.
Lute was Coca-Cola Canada’s VP of commercial and national sales, responsible for all functions which include national sales, revenue growth management, partner brand portfolio (Canada Dry, Monster Energy, Evian and A&W), innovation commercialization and productivity initiatives.
For two years, Lute served as the beverage company’s vice president channel strategy and marketing with a customer portfolio that included Loblaw, Walmart, Sobeys, Couche Tard and 7-Eleven.
Tahini’s names new CCO
Tahini’s has appointed Kaan Sayiner as its new chief commercial officer (CCO).
As CCO, Sayiner is charged with driving commercial and brand growth for the national QSR chain, which includes 43 locations. He will lead the company’s marketing, brand, guest experience, insights and analytics, and sales, and oversee the company’s strategic planning.
Sayiner is a former president of Afghan casual family dining chain, Naan Kabob. He also served as head of marketing and communications for Pethealth, a Fairfax Company, where he led marketing, sales and customer service teams for three years.
Labatt promotes senior manager
Kelsea Russell is starting a new position as senior brand manager – Beyond Beer at Labatt Breweries of Canada. Russell began working on the portfolio as an assistant brand manager in 2020.
She previously worked as assistant brand manager for Pfizer’s Centrum and Caltrate, executing insight-driven brand strategies, and consumer and shopper-centric communications.
She began her five-year career with the pharma and biotech company in 2015 as a marketing associate for Nexium.
