Executive Management

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.

Cary Devore was appointed to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in October 2021. In this newly created role, Mr. Devore works across the organization to help drive revenue growth, productivity, and operational excellence. In addition, he continues to drive the Company’s strategic corporate initiatives including mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, as well as continues to provide oversight for the Project Management Office, which manages the implementation of value creation and acquisition integration initiatives. Previously, Mr. Devore held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Utz since July 2019. Mr. Devore joined Utz in November 2016 as the lead representative of a minority private equity investor on the Board of Managers of the Utz Members, where he worked alongside Dylan Lissette to drive the Company’s acquisition and value creation efforts, and became Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in July 2019. Prior to serving as Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Devore served as Executive Vice President since December 2017 and as Senior Vice President from November 2016 until December 2017. From November 2014 until August 2017, Mr. Devore was a Managing Director of Metropoulos & Co., a private equity firm, where he focused on direct equity investments in the food and beverage sector. Prior to his service at Metropoulos, from October 2009 through August 2014, Mr. Devore was Co-Founder and Managing Director of SilverStream Capital, LLC, a family office focused on investments in healthcare and technology. From October 2005 through June 2009, Mr. Devore co-founded and led HBK Private Equity, LLC, the private equity arm of the hedge fund HBK Capital Management. Earlier in his career, Mr. Devore worked for Jordan Industries, Inc., an affiliate of The Jordan Company from May 1996 to July 2002, focusing on middle market buy and build strategies, as well as at UBS Investment Bank from August 2004 to October 2005 and Price Waterhouse LLP from August 1994 to May 1996. Mr. Devore graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Magna Cum Laude, and received his MBA from the University of Michigan with High Honors.

Ajay Kataria was appointed to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in October 2021. As Chief Financial Officer, he assumes responsibility of Accounting, Tax and Investor Relations, in addition to the business partner teams and Information Technology function that he oversaw in his previous role. Mr. Kataria joined Utz in 2017 and he previously served as Executive Vice President of Finance and Accounting at Utz, having served in this role since July 2019. Mr. Kataria joined Utz in July 2017 as Senior Vice President of Finance and Treasury to support the Company's financial planning, analytics and business transformation efforts, and became Executive Vice President in July 2019. Prior to joining Utz, from April 2016 until July 2017, Mr. Kataria served as Vice President of Global Finance and Strategy at Armstrong Flooring, Inc., a producer of residential and commercial flooring products. Prior to his time at Armstrong, from August 2014 until April 2016, Mr. Kataria served as Vice President of Supply Chain Finance at Chobani, Inc., a producer of Greek yogurt and dairy products. Prior to Chobani, Mr. Kataria worked for ten years at PepsiCo in various supply chain and finance roles of increasing responsibility. Mr. Kataria holds a Bachelor of Technology from the National Institute of Technology, India and earned his MBA from Southern Methodist University, Cox School of Business.

Eric Aumen was appointed Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer of Utz in January 2022. Mr. Aumen previously served as Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer at Utz, having served in this role since May 2020. Prior to joining Utz, Mr. Aumen served as Vice President and Controller of Element Fleet Management Corporation (TSX: EFN), a commercial motor vehicle management company from May 2016 until May 2020. Prior to Element Fleet, Mr. Aumen served as Chief Accounting Officer of Apex Tool Group, LLC, a hand and power tools manufacturer and marketer, Vice President, Corporate Controller for Colfax Corporation (NYSE: CFX) and began his career with Deloitte & Touche LLP, most recently as Audit Manager. From 2012 until 2020, Mr. Aumen served as a member of the Advisory Board of Pennsylvania State University, Mont Alto Campus. Mr. Aumen is a Certified Public Accountant and earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a minor in Supply Chain Management from The Pennsylvania State.

Shannan Redcay serves as Executive Vice President, Manufacturing at Utz having served in this role since June 2022. In this role, Ms. Redcay has responsibility for Manufacturing, Manufacturing Operational Excellence, Value Creation, Continuous Improvement, Engineering, Quality Assurance, Safety, Innovation and Research & Development. Ms. Redcay joined Utz in 2015 and she previously served as Senior Vice President of R&D, Quality Assurance and Value Creation since 2020. Prior to joining Utz, Ms. Redcay served in various roles at WhiteWave Foods, an international competitor in the plant-based, organic dairy and organic produce categories. During Ms. Redcay’s tenure at WhiteWave from 2006 to 2015, her roles included Director R&D, Dean Foods, where she helped launch TruMoo consolidated formulas across all regional dairies; Director of Packaging and Regulatory with a focus on new packaging format development; and Director of Horizon Organic where she helped drive expansion into Food categories. Ms. Redcay earned her Bachelor of Science from Purdue University.

Mark Schreiber serves as Executive Vice President, Sales and Chief Customer Officer, at Utz, having served in these roles since April 2017. Prior to his service at Utz, Mr. Schreiber served as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Operations for Pepperidge Farm, Inc., a commercial bakery that was acquired by Campbell Soup Company, and on the Global Sales Leadership team for Campbell Soup Company, a processed food and snack company, from January 2008 to April 2017. Mr. Schreiber also worked at Pepperidge Farm, Inc. as Customer Vice President from January 2002 until January 2008, and as Vice President Customer Trade Marketing from January 1999 until January 2002. Prior to Pepperidge Farm, from January 1987 to January 1999, Mr. Schreiber began his career at Frito-Lay, a manufacturer of corn chips, potato chips and other snack foods, performing various roles in sales, strategic accounts, supply chain, marketing and DSD strategic operations. Mr. Schreiber is a current member of the Food Industry Association and has served as a Sales Executive Board Member of the Grocery Manufacturers Association from 2010 until 2016. Mr. Schreiber holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from The Pennsylvania State University.

Theresa Robbins Shea has served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary since July 2021. Prior to joining Utz, Ms. Shea was Vice President & General Counsel of True Value Company, LLC, a hardware wholesaler that services independent hardware store owners. Before assuming that role in July of 2018, Ms. Shea served as Assistant General Counsel, Labor & Employment for True Value starting in December of 2007. During her tenure at True Value, Ms. Shea served as Executive Sponsor of the Inclusion & Diversity Council and True Value Foundation and led the internal COVID Crisis Team. From November of 2002 through December of 2007, Ms. Shea held the role of Senior Counsel at United Airlines, Inc., assisting the Company as it renegotiated all of its employment commitments during its post-09/11 bankruptcy. Earlier in her career, Ms. Shea worked as an associate for Seyfarth Shaw, an international law firm, out of its Chicago, Illinois office, focusing her practice in labor, employment and education law. Ms. Shea graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Bronze Tablet in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in the Teaching of English and Magna Cum Laude in 1997 with a Juris Doctor Degree. Ms. Shea obtained a Certificate in Executive Management from the University of Notre Dame in 2015.

James Sponaugle serves as the Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer at Utz, having served in this role since August 2021. Prior to his role as Chief People Officer, Mr. Sponaugle served as Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Personnel Development at Utz, from February 2020 until August 2021. Prior to joining the Utz companies, from January 2009 until January 2020, Mr. Sponaugle worked at the Stewart Companies family of businesses, a company handling the entire range of construction-related services. Starting with Poole Construction from January 2009 to June 2010, and then moving to Riley Welding and Fabricating, a metal fabrication division of Stewart Companies, a full-service construction-related services company, serving as General Manager and Vice President from June 2010 until March 2018. Mr. Sponaugle was promoted to Executive Vice President and added the responsibility of running Stewart & Tate Construction Industrial Division starting March 2018 through January 2020, while also maintaining his responsibilities at Riley Welding and Fabricating. Mr. Sponaugle started his career with Cintas Corporation in January of 1999, and for close to a decade held various leadership roles in Sales and Operations, finishing his career as a General Manager overseeing a 3-shift operation with approximately 165 associates, including approximately 55 routes and Service Sales Representatives. Cintas is a public company operating nearly 500 facilities in North America — including five manufacturing facilities and eleven distribution centers. Mr. Sponaugle serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the YMCA of Hanover. Mr. Sponaugle earned his B.S. in Business Management from Cornell University.

Mr. Whyte was appointed to Executive Vice President, Supply Chain in June 2022. As EVP, Supply Chain, he assumes responsibility for Procurement, which plays an integral role in the supply chain process. Mr. Whyte joined Utz in 2021 as Senior Vice President, Supply Chain Planning and Logistics. Mr. Whyte joined Utz with 25 years of experience in supply chain roles, most recently as President of Aloe Group, a consulting firm that has been working closely with Utz on several value creation initiatives. Prior to Aloe, Mr. Whyte was Vice President, Supply Chain at Pinnacle Foods, where he was responsible for all transportation, warehousing and network optimization for a $3.5 billion revenue business. Prior to Pinnacle Foods, he was Senior Director, Logistics at Campbell Soup Company; Director, Logistics North America at Reckitt Benckiser; and Director, Supply Chain Planning at Church & Dwight Company. Mr. Whyte received a B.S. in Supply Chain and Information Systems, as well as an M.B.A., from The Pennsylvania State University. He was also an adjunct faculty member for Penn State’s Executive Education Program on Achieving Supply Chain Transformation.