WICHITA, Kan. – Cargill has announced the appointment of Chuck Gitkin to the newly created position of chief marketing officer for the company’s protein business in North America. Effective Sept. 19, Gitkin will assume the new role and become a member of the leadership team with the Cargill Protein Group. Gitkin has worked as a marketer in consumer packaged goods for more than 23 years with food and non-food companies, most recently serving as senior vice president of brands and marketing with Smithfield Foods, Smithfield, Virginia.

Chuck Gitkin

Brian Sikes, corporate vice president and leader of Cargill’s protein group, said as the market for protein continues shifting, including growth on a global scale, Gitkin’s CPG experience is a good fit for Cargill as the segment transforms.

“Chuck became the clear choice to lead our marketing transformation and implement our customer-centric and unified approach for promoting our protein portfolio,” he said. “It’s critical to have the right person leading this go-to-market transformation, someone who has a laser-like focus on our customers’ channels and can ensure they are supported with a wealth of deep consumer insights and innovation to help them grow both their business and ours.”

“I look forward to joining a strong management team at Cargill and building on the work they have begun over the past year to transform the business and establish strong momentum and growth,” Gitkin said.  “I am excited by the entire organization’s high level of enthusiasm, creativity and energy.”