Finance
Kraft Heinz names Nicolas Amaya as president of North America business
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 18, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 18, 2026
Quick Summary
Kraft Heinz appoints Nicolas Amaya as North America president, pausing its split plans to focus on strategic growth under new CEO Steve Cahillane.
Kraft Heinz Appoints Nicolas Amaya as North America President
Kraft Heinz Leadership Changes
Feb 18 (Reuters) - Kraft Heinz named former Kellanova executive Nicolas Amaya as president of its North America business on Wednesday, a week after hitting pause on its plans to split the company.
Background of Nicolas Amaya
Last week, the packaged food maker, which has been struggling with persistent demand weakness in the U.S., halted its efforts to separate into two entities and announced new investments to boost its business.
Company's Strategic Decisions
Kraft Heinz's new CEO Steve Cahillane, also a former Kellanova executive, said the decision to hit pause on the split was necessary owing to deteriorating conditions in the food industry, though he called the challenges "fixable and within our control".
Impact on North American Operations
Amaya, who has years of experience in working across the consumer packaged goods industry, would be succeeding Pedro Navio, effective February 23.
The company said Amaya would oversee strategy, operations and performance across Kraft Heinz's North American market, its largest revenue generator.
Amaya had most recently served in senior executive roles at Kellanova. He worked closely with Cahillane during his term as CEO at Kellanova until it was acquired by Mars.
(Reporting by Anuja Bharat Mistry in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)
Key Takeaways
- •Nicolas Amaya appointed as president of Kraft Heinz North America.
- •Kraft Heinz halts plans to split the company.
- •New CEO Steve Cahillane addresses industry challenges.
- •Amaya to oversee strategy and operations in North America.
- •Amaya has extensive experience in consumer packaged goods.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kraft Heinz names Nicolas Amaya as president of North America business
1What is a corporate strategy?
Corporate strategy refers to the overall plan for a company to achieve its goals and objectives, including decisions on resource allocation, business direction, and competitive positioning.
2What is consumer packaged goods?
Consumer packaged goods (CPG) are products that are sold quickly at a relatively low cost, typically including items like food, beverages, toiletries, and other consumables.
3What is an appointment in a corporate context?
An appointment in a corporate context refers to the formal designation of an individual to a specific position or role within an organization, often involving responsibilities and authority.
