Board of Directors

Dylan B. Lissette was appointed to Executive Chairman of Utz in December 2022, after previously serving as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer since assuming the role in January 2013. In addition, Mr. Lissette has served as a Member of the Board of Managers of the Utz Members since June 2004. Prior to serving as Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Lissette served as Chief Operating Officer from January 2011 to January 2013 and Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing from January 2008 to January 2011. Prior to his service as an executive officer of Utz, Mr. Lissette served Utz in several capacities since joining in 1995, including serving as Retail Sales Manager, Key Account Director, and Director of Marketing. In 2007, Mr. Lissette was promoted to the position of Senior Vice President — Sales Operations where he had direct responsibility for route sales development in the Company’s Mid-Atlantic core markets and system-wide administration of the company’s DSD operations.

Mr. Lissette represents the fourth generation of family leadership and involvement at Utz and is the son-in-law of Michael W. Rice, who serves as Director, Chairman Emeritus, and Special Advisor to Utz. Mr. Lissette also served on the Board of Directors of Hanover Hospital from August 2011 until August 2018.

Mr. Lissette holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Economics and Public Policy from The George Washington University. The Company believes that Mr. Lissette’s extensive institutional knowledge and executive experience as the former Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Utz, qualifies him to serve as a director of the Company.

Roger K. Deromedi serves as Lead Independent Director of Utz. Prior to this role, Mr. Deromedi served as the Chairman of Utz from August 2020 to December 2022. Mr. Deromedi has over 40 years of operational experience in the consumer goods sector, overseeing multiple businesses and iconic consumer brands. He co-founded and served as Co-Executive Chairman of Collier Creek Holdings, a special purpose acquisition company that became Utz Brands in August 2020. Mr. Deromedi was Independent Chairman and Lead Director of Pinnacle Foods from April 2016 to October 2018 and was Non-Executive Chairman from July 2009 to April 2016 and Executive Chairman from April 2007 to July 2009. Mr. Deromedi also was an advisor to Blackstone in relation to their acquisition of the company in April 2007. During Mr. Deromedi’s tenure, the company acquired and successfully integrated multiple businesses including Birds Eye Foods, Wishbone, Gardein, and Boulder Brands, consistently meeting or exceeding synergy targets. Additionally, from its initial public offering in March 2013 until the sale to Conagra Brands, Inc. in October 2018, the share price of Pinnacle Foods’s common stock increased by 233.3%, representing a 24.1% annualized return, or approximately 6.1x the increase in the S&P 500 Consumer Staples index and 3.2x the increase in the S&P 500 index over the same time period. From July 2013 to June 2015, Mr. Deromedi was an Executive Advisor for Blackstone in the consumer goods sector, and was an independent advisor to Blackstone from 2007 to 2013. From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Deromedi was Chief Executive Officer of Kraft. During this time, Mr. Deromedi integrated Kraft’s separate North American and International businesses. Prior to this, Mr. Deromedi was Co-CEO of Kraft from 2001 to 2003 during which time there was an initial public offering of the company, raising approximately $8.7 billion in gross proceeds. Mr. Deromedi previously served on the board of directors of Pinnacle Foods from 2007 to 2018, Kraft from 2001 to 2006 and The Gillette Company, Inc. from 2003 to 2005 (when the company was merged with The Procter & Gamble Company). Mr. Deromedi earned an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a B.A. in economics and mathematics from Vanderbilt University.

John W. Altmeyer was recently appointed Executive Chairman for GAF Commercial Roofing, a Standard Industries company and North America’s largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer. In this new role, John is responsible for developing and leading a multi-year strategy focused on making GAF the number one in the commercial roofing market. From 1997 to 2018, John served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Carlisle Construction Materials, a division of Carlisle Companies Incorporated. Carlisle Construction Materials is principally engaged in the manufacture and sale of rubber and thermoplastic roofing systems and other products with roofing applications for commercial and residential buildings. Mr. Altmeyer also has served as a Member of the Board of Directors of EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE: EME), a mechanical and electrical construction, industrial and energy infrastructure and facilities services company, since 2014. As part of his service on the EMCOR Board of Directors, Mr. Altmeyer currently serves on the governance committee of EMCOR and has served as the Chair of the Compensation Committee of EMCOR since 2018, and served on the audit committee from 2014 through 2018. Additionally, Mr. Altmeyer served as a member of the Board of Directors of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, a bank holding company, from 2012 to 2014. Mr. Altmeyer also served on the Board of Directors of Tecta America, a roofing contracting and services business, from 2019 to 2021. Mr. Altmeyer earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and his MBA from Harvard Business School. Having extensive service as an executive officer and director of public companies, which experience includes strategic planning for mergers and acquisitions, business operations, and financial compliance and controls, Mr. Altmeyer is well positioned to serve as a director of the Company.

Timothy P. Brown is a Member of the Board of Managers of the Utz Members, having served in this role since June 1999. Mr. Brown is the Founder of Sageworth, an entity comprised of Sageworth Holdings, LLC, Sageworth Trust Company and Sageworth Trust Company of South Dakota that provides investment management, fiduciary and planning services to highly successful individuals and families, and has served as its President and Chief Executive Officer since January 2001. As an attorney, accountant and the Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sageworth, Mr. Brown brings extensive business, financial, legal and accounting knowledge to his position on the Board of Managers of the Utz Members. Mr. Brown also serves on the Board of Directors of Penn State Health, a large hospital system, as the Chair of Penn State Health’s Finance Committee, Chair of Penn State Health’s Investment Committee, and member of Penn State Health’s Executive Committee. Mr. Brown also serves on the Board of Directors of Chief Executives Organization (CEO), as Chair of CEO’s Finance and Administration Committee, and member of CEO’s Executive Committee. Mr. Brown is a member of Young Presidents Organization and has served as its chair emeritus, chair, education officer and finance officer of the Pennsylvania chapter. Mr. Brown helped found the S. Dale High Family Business Center at Elizabethtown College, is a founding director of Music for Everyone, former trustee of the Pennsylvania Academy of Music, past general counsel and secretary of The Lancaster Alliance, past president of the Lancaster Museum of Art, past director of Harb-Adult, a homeless shelter, and a co-founder and manager of The Churchill Society. Mr. Brown received his Juris Doctor degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Penn State, graduating with highest distinction. The Company believes that Mr. Brown’s tenure as a director of Utz, extensive experience as a business leader, and training as an accountant and attorney qualify him to serve as a director of the Company.

Christina Choi is currently Senior Vice President of Marketing and a member of the North America marketing leadership team for Diageo, a global leader in alcoholic beverages. Ms. Choi joined Diageo in January 2019 to lead the Gin, Rum & Tequila categories across North America, including consumer brands such as Tanqueray Gin, Captain Morgan Rum, and Don Julio Tequila. Ms. Choi is responsible for category strategy, brand marketing, and commercialization activities across this portfolio. Prior to Diageo, Ms. Choi served as Global Marketing Vice President for Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer, from March 2013 to January 2019. In this role, Ms. Choi developed the global launch strategy for Michelob Ultra, delivered double digital global sales growth for Stella Artois including leading two Super Bowl marketing campaigns, and oversaw the development and commercialization of several emerging brands. From 2006 to 2012, Ms. Choi held various marketing and innovation roles within the personal care business of Unilever plc, based in the U.S. and Singapore. Ms. Choi led multiple brands, and innovation launches globally, including across the U.S., Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Africa, among others. Ms. Choi began her career in financial services at Goldman Sachs in the Credit Risk Management and Advisory group and Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Ms. Choi holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Economics from Vassar College. Ms. Choi’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors include her management experience at several global consumer product businesses and her marketing expertise across brand, category and portfolio strategy, consumer research and insights, innovation development and commercialization, and brand marketing execution.

Tony Fernandez currently serves as the President of AFF Advisors, LLC, a private advisory firm. He previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer of Pinnacle Foods, Inc. (NYSE:PF) from 2011 to 2016, where he was responsible for management of the company’s end-to-end supply, while also overseeing Pinnacle’s food quality, safety and productivity programs. Mr. Fernandez was Senior Vice President Operational Excellence at Kraft Foods, Inc., following Kraft’s acquisition of Cadbury, plc in 2010, until he joined Pinnacle in 2011. Mr. Fernandez was at Cadbury from 1998 until 2010, serving in a series of senior management positions, including Chief Supply Chain Officer, from 2008-2010. His early career included roles in manufacturing, procurement, engineering, logistics and consulting with Proctor & Gamble Co. (NYSE:PG), PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) and The Canaan Group. Mr. Fernandez served on the Board of Directors at Collier Creek Holdings, a special purpose acquisition company that became Utz Brands in August 2020, and currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Lafayette College. Previously he served on the Board of Directors of Liberty Property Trust (NYSE:LPT), until its recent acquisition by Prologis, Inc. (NYSE:PLD). He received his bachelor’s degree from Lafayette College.

Howard Friedman joined Utz in December 2022 and serves as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Friedman has over 25 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, leading some of America’s most iconic brands, including PEBBLES™ cereal, PHILADELPHIA™ cream cheese, Oscar Mayer™, LUNCHABLES™, and KRAFT®. He has a proven track record of profitably growing businesses and market share through world-class marketing. Further, he has deep experience in new business integration, commercial execution, and value creation.

Before joining Utz, Mr. Friedman served as the Chief Operations Officer of Post Holdings, Inc., with direct supervision of procurement, environmental health & safety, as well as responsibility for diversity, inclusion, and sustainability. Prior to his role as COO, Mr. Friedman served as President and CEO of Post Consumer Brands, its flagship cereal business, from 2018 to 2021.

While at The Kraft Heinz Company, Mr. Friedman served in roles of increasing responsibility for over 20 years, gaining extensive experience in consumer products and culminating in his role as Executive Vice President, Refrigerated, leading Kraft’s most prominent business unit. 

Mr. Friedman began his career in the United States Army, serving in the United States and overseas, completing his service as a Captain. He holds a B.A. from Dickinson College and an M.B.A. in Marketing and Finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Jason K. Giordano serves as a Director of Utz, Chairman of the Compensation Committee, and a member of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Giordano has been a Senior Managing Director of CC Capital, a private investment firm, since 2018. He co-founded and served as Co-Executive Chairman of Collier Creek Holdings, a special purpose acquisition company that became Utz Brands in August 2020. Previously, Mr. Giordano was a Managing Director in the private equity group at Blackstone where he oversaw investments in consumer goods and other sectors. From 2006 to 2017, he was involved in 12 initial and follow-on acquisitions totaling over $10 billion in aggregate enterprise value. Prior to Blackstone, Mr. Giordano was a private equity investment professional at Bain Capital, LP and an investment banker with Goldman, Sachs, & Co. Mr. Giordano previously served on the board of directors of Collier Creek Holdings, Pinnacle Foods, Crocs, AVINTIV, and Ascend Learning, among others. Mr. Giordano earned an M.B.A. with high distinction from Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar, and an A.B. with high honors in economics from Dartmouth College.

B. John Lindeman has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. (Nasdaq-GS: HYFM) a leading independent distributor and manufacturer of hydroponics equipment and supplies for controlled environment agriculture since March 2020. From August 2015 until assuming his current role at Hydrofarm Holdings in March 2020, Mr. Lindeman served as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary at Calavo Growers, Inc. (Nasdaq-GS: CVGW), a global avocado-industry leader and expanding provider of valued-added fresh food, where he was responsible for the finance, accounting, IT and human resource functions. Prior to joining Calavo, Mr. Lindeman held various leadership positions within the finance and investment banking industries, including serving as managing director at Sageworth Trust Company, a provider of investment management, fiduciary and planning services to highly successful individuals and families, from March 2015 to July 2015, managing director and co-head of the consumer and retail group at Janney Montgomery Scott, a financial advisory firm, from August 2009 to March 2015, managing director at Stifel Nicolaus, a full service brokerage and investment banking firm, from December 2005 to August 2009, and principal at Legg Mason, a global asset management leader, from October 1999 to December 2005. Prior to joining Legg Mason, Mr. Lindeman was a Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP from August 1996 to October 1999. Mr. Lindeman is a Chartered Financial Analyst, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Mary Washington. The Company believes that Mr. Lindeman’s twenty-five years of executive leadership experience, including substantial leadership and finance, accounting and executive experience at public companies qualifies him to serve as a director of the Company.

Michael W. Rice serves as Director, Chairman Emeritus, and Special Advisor to Utz. Mr. Rice previously held the role of Executive Chairman which he assumed in December 2012 following his role as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Utz from 1992 until 2012. Mr. Rice served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Utz from 1978 until 1992. Prior to serving as Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Rice served as Executive Vice President of Utz from 1970 to 1978. Mr. Rice also serves as a Member of the Board of Managers of the Utz Members. Mr. Rice is a graduate of Mount St. Mary’s University and holds a law degree from George Washington University School of Law. Mr. Rice is the father-in-law of Dylan Lissette, who serves as Chief Executive Officer of Utz and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company. The Company believes that Mr. Rice’s extensive institutional knowledge of Utz and experience serving as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of Utz qualifies him to serve as a director of the Company.

Craig D. Steeneck has been a member of the Board of Directors of Collier Creek Holdings since November 2018, where he is the Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Steeneck served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Pinnacle Foods Inc. from July 2007 to January 2019, where he oversaw the company’s financial operations, treasury, tax, investor relations, corporate development and information technology. From June 2005 to July 2007, Mr. Steeneck served as Executive Vice President, Supply Chain Finance and IT of Pinnacle Foods, helping to redesign the supply chain to generate savings and improved financial performance. Pinnacle Foods was acquired by Conagra Brands in October 2018. From April 2003 to June 2005, Mr. Steeneck served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Cendant Timeshare Resort Group (now Wyndham Worldwide Corporation), playing key roles in wide-scale organization of internal processes and staff management. From March 2001 to April 2003, Mr. Steeneck served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Resorts Condominiums International (now Wyndham Worldwide Corporation). From October 1999 to February 2001, Mr. Steeneck was the Chief Financial Officer of International Home Foods Inc. Mr Steeneck has served as a board member and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Freshpet Inc since November 2104. Mr. Steeneck has served as a board member and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Hostess Brands, Inc. since November 2016 and as lead independent director from January 2019 to December 2019. Mr. Steeneck has served on the Board of Directors of Kind, Inc. from May 2019 to July 2020. Mr. Steeneck provides the Board of Directors with extensive management experience in the consumer-packaged goods industry as well as accounting and financial expertise.

Pamela Stewart is currently President, West Operations for the North America Operating Unit at The Coca-Cola Company. In this role, Ms. Stewart is responsible for a business comprised of 80+ million consumers, 600+ customers, 20+ bottlers, as well as franchise leadership, operations and all routes to market for the West geography. Prior to her current role, Ms. Stewart led large global and U.S.-based club and grocery retail customers as Senior Vice President, National Retail Sales at The Coca-Cola Company. She has spent over 20 years across the Coca-Cola System in various senior leadership roles in the areas of global, national and regional sales; operations; finance; revenue growth management; general management; foodservice on premise and B2B retail business segments. Ms. Stewart holds undergraduate and graduate business administration degrees from Georgia State University and Oglethorpe University and a Harvard Business School executive education certification. She also is a proud graduate of the GCLS Writing Academy and Leadership Atlanta. The Company believes that Ms. Stewart’s extensive tenure at The Coca-Cola Company with management experience across Sales, Operations, and Finance qualifies her to serve as a director of the Company.