Andrea G. Montagna

Appointed CEO of Greenyard USA / Seald Sweet, the U.S. division of Greenyard, a global, PE-backed company with over 40 years of history and a leading presence in fresh and prepared produce. Seald Sweet, acquired by Greenyard in the 1990s, is one of the oldest citrus companies in the U.S., with a legacy spanning more than a century. Leading a private equity-backed growth strategy focused on operational excellence, strategic partnerships, innovation, and cultural transformation.

- Serve on the Board of a family-owned food company, supporting long-term strategy, governance, and value creation - Advise on growth initiatives, organizational professionalization, and leadership development - Partner with ownership and management on strategic planning, capital allocation, and succession considerations - Bring operating CEO perspective across branded food, CPG, and international markets

Provide selective advisory support to founders, CEOs, and private equity sponsors on U.S. expansion, value-creation plans, and organizational scaling. Engage primarily in board-level and CEO-to-CEO contexts, bringing hands-on operating experience across branded food, CPG, and fresh produce businesses in the U.S. and Europe.

Led the U.S. division of a $2.5B global food company through a full-scale transformation across commercial, operational, and cultural domains, overseeing four manufacturing plants and more than 3,500 employees. - Successfully stabilized and repositioned the business following years of financial underperformance. - Recruited and built a high-performing executive team to drive strategic clarity and execution. - Designed and implemented a 5-year roadmap for growth, margin recovery, and organizational alignment. - Achieved B Corp certification, positioning the company as a sustainability and ESG leader in the category. - Delivered accelerated sales growth in both retail and foodservice channels through innovation, customer collaboration, and enhanced go-to-market execution. - Navigated global supply chain disruptions through agile decision-making and strong team alignment.

Appointed to lead and reposition Bonduelle’s Italian subsidiary within a complex retail and foodservice environment. - Shifted business mix significantly toward branded products, improving profitability and brand equity. - Strengthened retail, private label, and foodservice partnerships to increase commercial agility. - Strengthened and increased the strategic focus on the Organizzazione dei Produttori (OP) to enhance alignment between growers and company objectives, improving integration and supply reliability. - Delivered strong financial results while improving team culture, cross-functional collaboration, and operational efficiency. - Promoted to lead the company’s U.S. business based on demonstrated strategic and leadership impact.

Elected President of the IV Gamma division of Unione Italiana Food, Italy’s largest food industry association. Represented the fresh-cut produce sector in discussions with government agencies, retailers, grower associations, and trade groups. - Advocated for national policies supporting food safety, innovation, and sustainability in the fresh-cut category. - Promoted greater industry cohesion and credibility with consumers, institutions, and the broader food ecosystem. - Played a key role in shaping Italy’s positioning within the European fresh-cut market through institutional dialogue and media visibility.

Held multiple senior leadership roles at this privately owned multinational CPG company, including General Manager Italy UHU Bostik, Head of Global Sales, and Head of Southern Europe. Worked directly with the founder and owner. Full P&L responsibility for the Italian business (~$100M+) and commercial leadership across multiple countries and channels. - More than doubled profits in Italy through commercial reorganization, operational discipline, and strategic investment in core brands. - As Head of Global Sales for the Adhesive Division, led international commercial strategy across key markets and distributors. - As Head of Southern Europe, oversaw regional strategy, integration, and performance across several business units. - Restructured the sales force in Italy to improve efficiency, customer segmentation, and field execution. - Strengthened brand equity through trade marketing, innovation, and tighter collaboration between sales and marketing teams. - Built a strong internal culture around ownership, results, and team development.

Held a series of fast-track leadership roles across sales, marketing, and business development during a 11-year international career with Henkel. Gained extensive cross-functional experience and delivered strong results in both mature and emerging markets. - Director of Sales – Italy: Led a $100M+ business unit with 110+ employees. Responsible for national key accounts, field sales, and trade execution. - Global Marketing Manager – Düsseldorf HQ: Managed international brand portfolio strategy and product innovation roadmap across key markets. - U.S. Business Development Manager – Cleveland: Successfully launched a new consumer category in North America; the product remains in the market today. - Recognized for consistent results and leadership potential—received 7 promotions across 3 countries. - Developed deep expertise in brand building, go-to-market strategy, and international team leadership.

CEMS Global Alliance in Management Education is a strategic alliance of 28 member schools from 4 continents, 70 corporate partners and 4 social partners (NGOs). The CEMS Master's in International Management (CEMS MIM) provides a unique blend of top-level education and professional experience for multilingual, multicultural postgraduate students. The Financial Times ranking rates the CEMS MIM amongst the very best Master's in Management programmes in the world. www.cems.org