August 3/Glendale, Cal./PRNewswire -- Paul Grimwood, CEO of Nestlé UK & Ireland, has been appointed to the role of chairman & CEO of Nestlé USA following the announcement by current chairman & CEO Brad Alford, who is to retire in October 2012.

Grimwood has been CEO of Nestlé UK & Ireland since January 2009 and headed the Nestlé UK Confectionery business for three years prior to that. During this period, despite the difficult economic environment, Nestlé's business in the UK & Ireland delivered consistent growth in sales and profitability, and grew overall market share. Grimwood also led a major investment program to create Nestlé's next generation of world-class manufacturing operations in the UK. He joined Nestlé in 2001 in Nestlé Purina PetCare UK & Ireland.

Alford has been with Nestlé for 32 years, including nearly seven years as Chairman & CEO of Nestlé USA. He was Market Head of Nestlé Oceania and in the U.S. led many businesses during his career, including Nestlé FoodServices, Confections & Snacks and Nestlé Brands before being named to his current role in late 2005. During his tenure, Nestlé USA has grown to sales of more than $10 billion by expanding into new categories and developing new distribution systems. Nestlé USA is one of the largest markets for Nestlé S.A., headquartered in Switzerland.