DALLAS, Oct. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Dean Foods Company (NYSE: DF) today announced several changes in executive assignments among its leadership team, designed to focus the management structure around the Company's priorities of volume growth, cost reduction and productivity, and effective pricing. The changes will align the executive team around three key operational areas – Commercial, Operations and Logistics – and will be led by current incumbents.

The Commercial organization will be led by Marty Devine, who will serve as EVP, Chief Commercial Officer, with responsibility for Dean Foods' sales, marketing and research and development functions. The Commercial team will focus on topline growth, building improved customer relationships and expanding the company's presence in retail and foodservice channels, and bringing innovative products to market in order to drive profitable volume growth and increased pricing effectiveness. Mr. Devine has more than 35 years of dairy industry experience and most recently served as Chief Operating Officer. 

The Operations team will be led by Shay Braun, SVP, Operations and Procurement. Mr. Braun joined Dean Foods six years ago and has held positions of increasing responsibility with the Company in operations and procurement. His responsibilities previously included the Company's operations support functions such as engineering, quality and safety, and will now also encompass operational management for the Company's manufacturing facilities. 

Finally, the Logistics team, previously referred to as Distribution, will be led by Tony Brooks who will continue to serve as SVP Logistics and has been appointed to the Executive Leadership Team, reporting to CEO Gregg Tanner. Mr. Brooks joined the Company earlier this year and has 25 years of logistics leadership experience with companies including Reyes Holdings, Sears, and Frito-Lay.

"Our focus on volume growth, cost savings and effective pricing remains unchanged, and we believe these changes to our executive structure will further improve our performance" said Mr. Tanner. "We have the best team in the industry, and I am confident these structural changes will bring the appropriate level of leadership visibility and support to our core operational functions."

The Company's functional support structure, which includes Finance, Legal, Human Resources and Information Technology, remains unchanged. In an unrelated change, Barbara Carlini, who served as Chief Information Officer for four years, announced her decision to retire from Dean Foods effective September 30, 2013. Brian Murphy has been appointed to succeed Ms. Carlini as Chief Information Officer. Mr. Murphy served as chief information officer for the Company's Morningstar Foods division before it was sold to Saputo Inc. earlier this year. Mr. Murphy concluded his transition activities with Saputo and returned to Dean Foods in September to succeed Ms. Carlini.