WK Kellogg Co. announced that Jean-Baptiste Santoul has joined the company as chief operating officer, effective immediately, according to a Monday, Feb. 2, announcement.
Santoul’s appointment follows Ferrero’s recent acquisition of WK Kellogg Co., marking a new chapter for the cereal company. As the new head of the company, Santoul will work closely with WK Kellogg Co.’s leadership team – as well as leadership at Ferrero Group – to advance the company’s strategic priorities.
Who is WK Kellogg Co.’s new COO?
Prior to joining WK Kellogg Co., Santoul served as chief sales and business development officer at Ferrero Group at the company’s Luxembourg headquarters, where he led global commercial frameworks and enterprise-wide growth and transformation initiatives. He previously held the role of president and managing director of Ferrero France, overseeing portfolio growth and organizational modernization.
Earlier in his career, Santoul held multiple senior leadership positions at Henkel across France, Germany, the Benelux region and North Africa. He began his career at Unilever in brand management.
“This is a pivotal time for WK Kellogg Co. and for the future of cereal in North America – the category Mr. Kellogg himself created,” Santoul said in the announcement. “Our company’s rich heritage and portfolio of iconic brands have been part of consumers’ lives for generations, and today we’re poised to lead the category with renewed energy. I look forward to building on our legacy and advancing the spirit of innovation, operational excellence, and entrepreneurship. Together with our talented WK team and Ferrero’s resources and expertise, we will accelerate growth, strengthen our market leadership and keep bringing the foods consumers love to their tables every day.”
What other leadership changes have been made at WK Kellogg Co.?
The company also announced that Gary Pilnick, Chairman and CEO since WK Kellogg Co.’s spin-off from Kellogg Company in 2023, departed the company at the end of 2025.
“Pilnick successfully launched WK Kellogg Co., led the development and execution of its strategy, and was instrumental in the $3.1 billion sale to Ferrero. He helped establish WK Kellogg Co.’s strong foundation and positioned the company for long-term success,” according to the announcement. “Before leading WK Kellogg Co., Pilnick spent 23 years with Kellogg Company, serving on the Executive Committee since 2003.”
“Leading WK Kellogg Co. has been the honor of my career, and I couldn’t be prouder of what our team accomplished together,” Pilnick said in a statement. “Launching WK Kellogg Co. as a standalone company and seeing it join forces with Ferrero has been a remarkable journey. I am deeply grateful to the WK Kellogg Co. team for their hard work, collaboration and friendship throughout the years. I look forward to seeing the company continue to thrive under Jean-Baptiste’s talented leadership and with the unwavering support of Ferrero.”
Santoul added, “Gary’s stewardship of WK Kellogg Co. has been instrumental in establishing the company’s direction and momentum. On behalf of the entire WK team, I want to thank him for his outstanding leadership and longstanding dedication to the organization. He has shaped WK in meaningful ways, and I am looking forward to building on the strong platform he created.”
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: WK Kellogg Co announces new leadership – What we know
Reporting by Liz Shepard, Battle Creek Enquirer / Battle Creek Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
