Retail | Wholesale | Food | Beverage 2023: STEVE PRESLEY

Presley is now in his second year of leading the Swiss food producer’s North American zone and sitting on the company’s executive board. Prior to Nestlé’s 2022 reorganization, he was head of its U.S. division and oversaw the sale of Nestlé’s confections business and the acquisitions of Starbucks’ packaged goods business and Essentia water. In November 2022, Nestlé sold its Gateway infant formula plant in Wisconsin and U.S. and Canadian rights to the Gerber Good Start formula brand to Perrigo.

In July, Presley said he expected to pause price increases on products sold in North America, after having raised prices by 12.4% year over year amid inflation. In 2022, Nestlé posted sales of $28.56 billion in North America, with organic growth of 10.3%. Globally, the company posted $98.93 billion in revenue last year.

In July, Nestlé subsidiary Purina completed its $182 million expansion at its King William County plant, adding 138,000 square feet that includes a new technical training center.

A graduate of the University of South Florida, Presley has been with the company for 25 years, beginning as a controller for a Nestlé beverage factory in Suffolk in 1997.