Samson will oversee daily sales and operations at Chicago-based Cozzini. He succeeds Ivo Cozzini, founder of the company, who retired to focus on other business opportunities. Cozzini will serve as an adviser to the executive management team on business development and acquisition strategies. Samson will report directly to Magdy Albert, president of Middleby Food Processing Group. Cozzini is a brand of The Middleby Corporation Food Processing Group.
“With more than 30 years of experience in the food processing industry, PJ’s extensive experience is an asset not only to Cozzini, but to all of the brands in the Food Processing Group,” Albert said. “His longstanding industry and customer relationships coupled with his proven leadership skills well-positions him to lead Cozzini’s continued growth.”
Samson has served as Cozzini'’s executive vice president since 2006. He oversaw the company's supply chain and worked closely with sales personnel to development customer relationships. Before joining Cozzini, Samson held various executive positions at the plant and corporate level at ConAgra Foods, Oscar Mayer/Kraft Foods and Pechiney Plastic Packaging. He has a degree in mechanical engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
