Risa Cretella was appointed Executive Vice President and President of Meals & Beverages in February 2025.
Risa leads our Meals & Beverages division, which includes brands like Campbell’s, Chunky, Pace, Pacific Foods, Prego, Rao’s, Swanson and V8, as well as North America Foodservice and our Canadian business. She is a member of the Operating Committee, which focuses on Board-level matters and the development of the Strategic Plan and Annual Operating Plan. She reports to the CEO.
Following the completion of the Sovos Brands acquisition in 2024, Risa was appointed Senior Vice President and General Manager of Distinctive Brands, a business unit within the Meals & Beverages division.
With nearly 25 years in the food industry, Risa has extensive experience in general management, marketing, innovation and sales. At Sovos, she was Executive Vice President, General Manager of Rao’s for six years, leading it to become a nearly $1 billion brand and the best growth story in all of food. During her final year at Sovos, Risa took on the additional responsibilities of Chief Sales Officer.
Earlier in her career, Risa spent five years at Pinnacle Foods in senior marketing roles, culminating in Senior Vice President of Marketing of its frozen food business, including the $1 billion Birds Eye brand. Risa also spent more than a decade at The J.M. Smucker Company in marketing and sales roles.
Risa earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing from the University of Notre Dame and her Master of Business Administration from Kent State University.