August 23/Sparks, Md./Business Wire -- Valentin Ramirez, formerly with the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, has been appointed to the new position of vice president/managing director Consumer Hispanic Markets, Americas for McCormick and Company Inc., it was announced by McCormick chairman, president and CEO Alan Wilson.

With Wrigley, Ramirez was most recently managing director-Spain/Portugal. Prior to his seven and a half years with Wrigley, Ramirez was with Procter and Gamble for 10 years in a number of assignments through the Caribbean and Latin America.

In this new position with McCormick since May, Ramirez has responsibility for all McCormick's Hispanic businesses, including a joint venture in Mexico, a business in Central America, a Hispanic subsidiary (Mojave Foods) and export business in the U.S., South America and the Caribbean.

"We see significant growth opportunities for our brands with Hispanic consumers," said Mark Timbie, president - North American Consumer Foods. "Valentin will provide the strategic leadership to capitalize on these growth opportunities."

Ramirez holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rice University and an MBA from the University of Texas.

From the August 30, 2010, Prepared Foods E-dition