Campbell Soup Company has appointed Mark Alexander president of Campbell North America, a unit that includes Campbell’s North America Food Service business as well as the North America Soup, Sauces and Beverages business and Campbell Canada. They collectively account for approximately $4.6 billion in annual revenue. The appointment is effective January 16, 2012.

In his new position, Alexander will succeed Sean Connolly, who is leaving Campbell to join Sara Lee Corp. as CEO of its North American Retail and Foodservice business. He will serve as CEO of Sara Lee’s North American Meats business following that company’s planned spinoff of its international coffee and tea business.

“Mark is an outstanding executive with a proven track record of success in critical management roles at Campbell, including the management of soup businesses in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia," says Campbell’s President/CEO Denise Morrison. "He was instrumental to the development of our company’s new strategic framework and has close familiarity with the Campbell North America business and its leadership team. During a career at Campbell that has spanned more than two decades, Mark has delivered consistently strong performance and demonstrated exemplary leadership skills. I am confident that, under his leadership, Campbell North America will maintain its strong progress in stabilizing and then profitably growing U.S. Soup and Simple Meals, and continue to advance the consumer-driven innovation and brand-building initiatives that are now well underway across our North American businesses."

Since joining Campbell in 1989, Alexander has held marketing, sales and management roles in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia. Before assuming his current role as President of Campbell International, with responsibility for the company’s businesses in Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America, Alexander served as Chief Customer Officer and president of the North America Baking and Snacking unit.