Dairy family business Saputo promotes non-family president

Canadian family-controlled dairy company Saputo has appointed a non-family member as president of the group, replacing third-generation Lino Saputo Jr who will remain the chief executive.

Dino Dello Sbarba, who was president and chief operating officer of the Canadian dairy products division, will become overall president of the company, Saputo said in a statement.

Sbarba will be replaced by Lorenzo Spinelli, who was senior vice-president of operations in Europe and Argentina.

While the non-family members take up top positions at the Montreal-based group, which is Canada’s largest dairy processor and the 12th largest in the world, Lino Saputo Jr will stay on as the CEO and vice-chairman of the board, a role he has held since March 2004.

Saputo, which was founded by Giuseppe Saputo in 1954 as a family business making cheese, currently includes operations in baked goods, milk production and grocery products. Second-generation Emanuele Saputo is chairman of the board.

One of CampdenFB’s top 100 family businesses in North America, Saputo had 2011 revenues of CAD$6.02 billion (€4.38 billion), up from CAD$5.81 the year before.

The Saputo family holds around 33% of the voting rights at the company, which is publicly listed on the Toronto stock exchange.