Former Coca-Cola Company executive Shane Grant is slated to join food and beverage company Danone on May 11 as chief executive officer of the firm’s North America business, a release announced Monday.

The move comes as Danone transitions its North American Essential Dairy and Plant-Based (EDP) business into a separate organization. In his new role, Grant will report to chief executive officer and chairman Emmanuel Faber, serve on the executive committee, and lead the firm’s EDP business in the North American market. 

“EDP North America is Danone’s largest business and the biggest B Corp in the world,” the company said. “The transformation of the EDP business in the region now provides a strong foundation for it to move into a new chapter of growth; one that captures the realities of a fast-changing market.”

Danone recently completed a three-year plan to integrate WhiteWave, which it acquired in 2017, with its Essential Dairy business in the region. 

Grant served in a range of leadership roles in marketing, commercial, and general management at Coca-Cola for about two decades, including posts as president of Coca-Cola Canada and president of the company’s Still Beverages business unit in North America. 

Along with Grant’s appointment, Danone also said Francisco Camacho will lead a Plant-Based Acceleration Unit to further its goal of reaching €5 billion in sales of plant-based products by 2025. He currently serves as the leader of EDP activities in Europe, Latin America, CIS and Aspame, and serves as executive vice president of EDP International. 

“I am deeply thankful for Francisco Camacho’s and the EDP team for steering and supporting the successful integration phase, and delighted to welcome Shane Grant as the new leader for Danone North America, as a member of our Danone Comex team,” said Faber in the release. “I am also convinced that, as our large countries are now entering into a lasting COVID-19 recover phase, this increased regional focus will be instrumental to adjust and execute our strategies to the local policies and realities.”

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