McGrath to Lead Pactiv Foodservice/Food Packaging Business

McGrath will succeed Pete Lazaredes in leading the business unit, who has announced his intention to retire. McGrath was formerly Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Pactiv’s Foodservice/Food Packaging unit.

22 Nov 2010 --- Pactiv Foodservice/Food Packaging Group, a wholly owned unit of Reynolds Group Holdings announced the appointment of John T. McGrath to Chief Executive Officer, Pactiv Foodservice/Food Packaging, effective immediately. The 51 year-old McGrath will lead the $2.5 billion unit which includes Pactiv’s Foodservice/Food Packaging business combined with the Reynolds Foodservice business. Pactiv Corporation was acquired by Reynolds Group Holdings Limited on November 16, 2010 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of New Zealand-based Rank Group Limited, which is owned by Graeme Hart.

McGrath will succeed Pete Lazaredes in leading the business unit, who has announced his intention to retire. McGrath was formerly Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Pactiv’s Foodservice/Food Packaging unit. He will report to Richard Wambold, CEO of Reynolds/Pactiv Foodservice and Consumer Products businesses.

“John has over 25 years of experience in the foodservice business including leading marketing and sales and various operating aspects of the business,” said Richard Wambold. “He brings both strong customer relationships and a broad understanding of all operating aspects of the foodservice business. He is the right person to lead Pactiv’s now larger Foodservice/Food Packaging business. I also wish to acknowledge the very significant contributions of Pete Lazaredes who has done a great job in leading this business since 2001,” added Wambold.

Prior to his role as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Pactiv’s Foodservice/Food Packaging, McGrath had been General Manager of Pactiv’s Processor Business and before that held various roles including Vice President, Logistics. He holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and received his bachelor’s degree in engineering from The United States Military Academy at West Point. He and his wife have three children and are residents of Libertyville, Illinois.