Tony Gavin will take Fred Penny’s place at BBU.
With effect from March 31, Tony Gavin has been appointed president of Bimbo Bakeries USA. Mr. Gavin will take over as CEO of BBU, the biggest commercial baking company in the US, from Fred Penny, who has oversaw Grupo Bimbo SAB de CV’s US operations for ten years.
The succession at BBU, along with other leadership changes at Mexico City-based Bimbo, was disclosed in the Grupo Bimbo fourth-quarter financial results. Rafael Pamias has been appointed Grupo Bimbo’s chief operating officer, while Mark Bendix, the company’s executive vice president, will now be responsible for BBU in addition to Bimbo Canada and Bimbo QSR.
All of the modifications, according to Bimbo, are “consistent with its succession plan and its long-term vision.”
At the moment, Mr. Gavin serves as BBU’s executive vice president. Prior to joining the company twenty years ago, he worked for CPC International, Inc., Best Foods, Inc., and George Weston Bakeries. Mr. Gavin, who is involved in industry matters, was elected to the American Bakers Association board of directors in 2022.
Daniel Servitje, president and chief executive officer of Grupo Bimbo, stated, “Tony’s primary passion has been growth through supporting our front line, and I am confident that this mindset, along with his care for our associates as well as our company, will fuel his success in this new role.”As president of BBU, Mr. Gavin will answer to Mr. Bendix, who oversees Bimbo QSR and has been with Grupo Bimbo since 2017.
Mr. Bendix has had executive roles at several well-known companies that produce grain-based meals. Mr. Bendix worked at The Quaker Oats Co. in his early career, starting in 1984. He served as general manager and vice president of The Pillsbury Co. from 1996 to 2001. Mr. Bendix worked in executive positions at General Mills for three years following the company’s acquisition of Pillsbury. From 2005 to 2012, he served as The Bama Companies, Inc.’s president and chief operating officer. He was appointed president of East Balt, a significant provider of baked goods to quick-service restaurants, in 2013. In 2017, Bimbo purchased East Balt.
Mr. Servitje stated, “Mark has the energy and extensive industry experience to take BBU to the next level and realize its full potential, working with Tony Gavin.” “I have faith that Mark will approach this new task with zeal and determination.”
In his capacity as COO, Mr. Pamias will oversee worldwide marketing, sustainability, and Grupo Bimbo’s four global regions. Mr. Servitje will be his direct supervisor. Grupo Bimbo has never had a COO before.
Since August 2017, Mr. Pamias has held various positions at Bimbo, including executive vice president and senior vice president. In addition to overseeing marketing and R&D, he has headed the company’s Latin American division. Prior to coming on board at Bimbo, Mr. Pamias was more than 11 years at Groupe Danone, most recently as a regional general manager, dairy.
He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in business administration and management from ESADE in Barcelona and a master’s degree in international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona.
He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in business administration and management from ESADE in Barcelona and a master’s degree in international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona.
Regarding the promotion, Mr. Servitje said that Mr. Pamias was responsible for starting Bimbo’s bold sustainability plan and effectively turning around the company’s operations in Argentina and Brazil.
“His vast industry experience combined with his excellent, demonstrated leadership abilities have enabled Bimbo to realize its goals and accomplish its mission,” Mr. Servitje stated. “I have no doubt that Rafa will approach this duty with vigor and excitement.Mr. Penny’s retirement will mark the end of a more than 40-year career in baking.
He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in business administration and management from ESADE in Barcelona and a master’s degree in international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona.
He began his baking career in finance with Kraft Foods Inc.’s bakery department and worked his way up to a succession of increasingly responsible jobs throughout the 1980s. He joined Kraft Baking in 1990 as director of productivity and strategic planning, and in 1993 he was elevated to general manager of the Intermountain market region, based in Denver. He rose to the position of vice president and general manager in the Northeast after four years. The company underwent multiple ownership changes during this time, and in 2007 he was elevated to executive vice president of George Weston Bakeries, Inc. When he was elevated to the position of president of BBU in 2013, he was an executive vice president.
He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in business administration and management from ESADE in Barcelona and a master’s degree in international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona.Mr. Penny was described by Mr. Servitje as a “fantastic leader and friend of the Grupo Bimbo family.”
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“BBU made significant strategic acquisitions to position the business for future success, invested in sales systems and automation throughout the supply chain, and focused and upgraded its manufacturing operations during his leadership,” Mr. Servitje stated. “BBU has become a major player in the industry through this work and advancements in safety, diversity, equity, and belonging, as well as sustainability.”
As president of BBU, Mr. Penny oversaw the integration of other significant baking enterprises, such as Sara Lee, Weston, and Mrs. Baird’s, to form a unified corporate culture.
He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in business administration and management from ESADE in Barcelona and a master’s degree in international management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona.
Grupo Bimbo made a number of acquisitions while Mr. Penny was president of BBU, the majority of which were made outside of the US, starting in 2014 when Canada Bread was acquired. In the US baking market, smaller acquisitions were made, such as the 2020 acquisition of Lender’s Bagels. More recently, UK-based baker St Pierre Groupe—which has a developing presence in the US—was purchased by Grupo Bimbo.