Global bakery manufacturer and ingredients supplier Dawn Foods has named a new president of its North American operations.

John Schmitz will join Dawn on Jan. 6. He will report to Carrie Jones-Barber, the company’s CEO. Schmitz has more than 25 years of leadership experience and a track record of building high-performing teams, according to Dawn. He worked most recently for Land O’Lakes, where he was vice president for international.

"As we approach our 100th anniversary, our people continue to remain at the forefront of our success," says Jones-Barber. "John – a proven leader known for organizing his teams around a shared vision – will be an instrumental addition to our executive team. His energy and passion for problem solving, combined with his commitment to customer success, will be critical to unlocking the fresh, innovative thinking required to deliver our vision of Inspiring Bakery Success Every Day."

To support Dawn's continued growth across its five North America regions, Schmitz will prioritize the way Dawn interacts with, engages and meets its customers' evolving needs, Jones-Barber says. In particular, he will work hand-in-hand with Dawn's digital innovation team in Boston to ensure the company provides the right end-to-end experience to support its customers' business demands and long-term growth.