H.J. Heinz Company announced the appointment of Jane S. Miller as president of its U.K. and Ireland business unit. She will be located in London. The appointment is effective immediately.

Miller has been the company's chief growth officer since 2004, based at Heinz' world headquarters in Pittsburgh.

She is a food industry veteran, with 17 years of management experience at PepsiCo and Bestfoods, responsible for a number of businesses.

A native of Peoria, Ill., she holds a B.A. degree in Russian studies from Knox College and an M.B.A. degree from Southern Methodist University.