Utz Executive and Leadership Team

Howard Friedman, the Chief Executive Officer at Utz, directs the overarching corporate strategy and long-term vision for the snack food portfolio. Overseeing the integration of diverse brands like Zapp's and Boulder Canyon, the Chief Executive Officer ensures consistent market expansion across grocery, convenience, and e-commerce channels. This leadership role involves constant collaboration with the Board to drive sustainable revenue growth and operational efficiency. By prioritizing innovation in product development and distribution, Howard Friedman strengthens the competitive position of the organization within the salty snack industry. The Chief Executive Officer maintains a focus on scaling production capabilities to meet rising consumer demand throughout the United States. Through rigorous oversight of financial performance and brand equity, the Chief Executive Officer secures the future trajectory of the company while fostering a culture of excellence across all manufacturing and marketing divisions.

Jennifer Bentz, the Executive VP & Chief Marketing Officer at Utz, architects the brand identity and consumer engagement strategies for the entire snack portfolio. Overseeing national marketing campaigns and product positioning, the Executive VP & Chief Marketing Officer ensures that brands like ON THE BORDER and Golden Flake resonate with target demographics in mass merchandisers and specialty retailers. This leadership role involves analyzing market trends to optimize the product mix and drive category growth. By aligning promotional activities with consumer preferences, Jennifer Bentz directly impacts brand loyalty and market share. The Executive VP & Chief Marketing Officer collaborates with sales teams to execute effective retail activations that boost visibility in competitive grocery environments. Through data-driven insights and creative brand management, the Executive VP & Chief Marketing Officer sustains the market presence of the company while expanding the reach of core snack offerings across diverse geographic regions.

James Sponaugle, the Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer at Utz, architects the human capital strategy and organizational development initiatives. Overseeing talent acquisition, employee engagement, and leadership training, the Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer ensures that the workforce remains aligned with the company's mission of delivering premium snack foods. This leadership role involves fostering a high-performance culture that supports the operational goals of manufacturing and marketing teams. By implementing robust HR policies and professional development programs, James Sponaugle drives employee retention and organizational agility. The Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer collaborates with other C-suite leaders to ensure that staffing levels match the requirements of the expanding distribution network. Through strategic workforce planning and a commitment to corporate values, the Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer strengthens the internal foundation necessary for the company to maintain its competitive edge in the food industry.

Theresa Shea, the Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary at Utz, directs all legal affairs, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance initiatives. Overseeing contract negotiations, intellectual property protection, and risk management, the Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary ensures that the company operates within the complex legal frameworks governing the food manufacturing industry. This leadership role involves providing counsel to the Board and executive team on strategic transactions and corporate policy. By managing legal risks associated with distribution and retail partnerships, Theresa Shea protects the company's assets and reputation. The Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary coordinates with external counsel to address litigation and regulatory inquiries. Through meticulous attention to governance standards and compliance protocols, the Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary supports the long-term stability and ethical integrity of the organization.

Shannan Redcay, the Executive VP, Manufacturing at Utz, directs all production operations and facility management across the manufacturing network. Overseeing the transformation of raw ingredients into high-quality potato chips, pretzels, and pork skins, the Executive VP, Manufacturing ensures that every production line meets rigorous safety and quality standards. This leadership role involves optimizing plant throughput and implementing advanced manufacturing technologies to enhance operational efficiency. By managing the daily output of diverse snack categories, Shannan Redcay supports the company's ability to fulfill large-scale orders for wholesale distributors and membership club stores. The Executive VP, Manufacturing coordinates with engineering teams to maintain equipment reliability and minimize downtime. Through a focus on continuous improvement and process standardization, the Executive VP, Manufacturing drives the production excellence required to support the broad market reach of the company's snack food portfolio.

Chad Whyte, the Executive VP, Supply Chain at Utz, directs the end-to-end logistics, procurement, and distribution network. Overseeing the movement of snack products from manufacturing facilities to grocery stores, convenience retailers, and mass merchandisers, the Executive VP, Supply Chain ensures that inventory levels meet consumer demand across all regions. This leadership role involves optimizing the transportation fleet and warehouse operations to reduce costs and improve delivery speed. By managing relationships with raw material suppliers and logistics partners, Chad Whyte secures the stability of the supply chain. The Executive VP, Supply Chain collaborates with sales and manufacturing teams to synchronize production schedules with market requirements. Through the implementation of advanced supply chain analytics and distribution strategies, the Executive VP, Supply Chain drives the operational efficiency required to maintain the company's position as a leading provider of salty snacks in the competitive retail landscape.