Saputo Inc. announced Lino A. Saputo, chair of the board, president, and CEO, will transition to executive chair of the board. The transition will take effect on Aug. 9, the date of the company’s annual general meeting.

Saputo's board of directors named Carl Colizza (pictured), currently president and COO (North America), as the new president and CEO of Saputo Inc. Since joining Saputo in 1998, Colizza has held key leadership positions in the area of engineering, operations, business development and strategy. He was appointed President and chief operating officer, Dairy Division (Canada) in 2015 before taking on the role of President and COO (North America) in 2019. 

“As I will be transitioning to the position of executive chair, my role will shift into a new capacity more focused on strategic oversight, continuing to promote the Saputo vision and values, and supporting the leadership team. As the Company’s largest shareholder, Jolina Capital is committed to Saputo for the long-term, and we fully support Carl’s nomination as president and CEO,” said Saputo. “I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am excited to continue supporting Carl and the entire Saputo team in achieving even greater success in the years to come. Carl is an extraordinary business leader who is well-respected across our industry and has a strong track record of leading global teams. He has deep roots within Saputo and has played a pivotal role in developing our strategy and improving our business.”

"I am honored to lead Saputo and our talented team with Lino’s support, building upon the foundation we have established over the past seven decade," said Colizza. "For over 25 years, I have had the privilege of working alongside Lino, whose commitment to Saputo’s culture, our people, and the communities we serve is truly extraordinary. I am excited to continue advancing Saputo’s business and delivering on the incredible opportunities we see ahead.”

Following the transition, Colizza will continue to execute the functions of President and COO (North America) for the time being. Anthony Fata will continue to serve as independent lead director.