Maple Leaf Foods is continuing its brand restoration project with the hiring of Stephen Graham as its new chief marketing officer, effective Jan. 11.
The new position is a reflection of the company’s transformation into a consumer packaged goods company, said Lynda Kuhn, senior vice-president communications, Maple Leaf Foods.
“The importance of… growth, driven by innovation and marketing, has been significantly enhanced and bringing that functional excellence to the company is considered important,” she said, of the Graham hiring.
In his new role, Graham will work with senior marketing executives to help drive company growth, she said. Maple Leaf recently reported a profitable third quarter, up from a net loss in the third quarter a year ago when the company was feeling the full brunt of a listeria-induced recall at a Maple Leaf plant in Toronto.
Graham, who has held executive marketing positions at Procter & Gamble, CIBC, Coca-Cola and AT&T in the U.S., and president at ad agency Lowe SMS. His most recent full-time job was as top marketer at Rogers Communications, a position he left last summer.
Though he doesn’t officially take over his new position until next year, he’ll start with Maple Leaf Foods on a part-time basis starting next week, said Kuhn.
“Stephen brings the depth of experience, a track record of success and the industry leadership to help us drive future business results in Canada and beyond,” said Michael McCain, president and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods, in a release.
