Dean Foods Company announced Joseph E. Scalzo will join the company as president and chief executive officer of WhiteWave Foods.

Scalzo takes the reins of WhiteWave Foods after 20 years of experience at major consumer product and beverage companies and will report directly to Dean Foods' chairman and chief executive officer Gregg Engles.

"In selecting a new president and CEO for WhiteWave Foods, we were looking for a seasoned professional with a unique set of skills. In Joe Scalzo, we found a powerful combination of executive leadership capabilities, a superb track record in marketing leading consumer brands and strong global supply chain expertise," Engles said. "We are very excited to have him at the helm of WhiteWave. Joe inherits a strong portfolio of brands with tremendous growth potential. I am confident he brings all the skills required to lead WhiteWave in capturing the full potential of these brands."

Scalzo joins WhiteWave Foods from The Gillette Company, where he is group president, Personal Care and Global Value Chain. As a member of Gillette's senior management team, Scalzo spearheaded the successful, three-year turnaround of the company's $1 billion global personal care business. In 2004, he added responsibility for management of the company's global value chain. Prior to that, as senior vice president and chief marketing officer of The Minute Maid Company, he successfully led extensive efforts to focus on product innovation, consumer value and nutrition. Scalzo began his career at Procter & Gamble in 1985, where he held numerous positions in marketing and product supply. Scalzo serves on the board of directors of HNI Corporation, a leading office furniture and wood-burning fireplace manufacturer.

"WhiteWave's powerhouse brands are already industry leaders," Scalzo said. "They are uniquely positioned to capture the market created by the remarkable growth in consumer demand for premium branded and better-for-you products. I am thrilled with the opportunity to work with the WhiteWave team to continue to lead the industry and drive the growth and profitability of these brands."

Scalzo will begin his tenure at WhiteWave Foods shortly after the closure of the pending merger of Gillette and Procter & Gamble.