DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — Sean Reid has been named chief customer officer of The Hillshire Brands Co., effective Aug. 20. Reid will lead the external selling organization and build sustainable strategic relationships and strategies across all consumer-facing channels, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Kroger, Costco and development networks. He will report to Sean Connolly, chief executive officer.

“Sean is a strong addition to the Hillshire Brands’ team, bringing extensive leadership experience and a proven track record of achieving solid results by partnering with customers and developing strong organizations,” Connolly said. “His deep understanding of the food industry and key customer needs combined with his ability to lead successful teams will help drive our business.”

Most recently, Reid was senior vice-president, US and international sales at Schwan Food Co. Earlier, he worked at Kraft Foods Inc. where he was vice-president of US retail sales. Prior to his work at Kraft, he held a variety of sales and management positions at Nabisco Biscuits & Snacks.

Reid received a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management at Eastern Illinois Univ.