Conagra Brands appoints John Brase as President and Chief Executive Officer
The move comes as the company continues to navigate a challenging consumer environment shaped by shifting demand, inflationary pressures and a highly competitive grocery market.
USA – Conagra Brands has appointed John Brase as its new president and chief executive officer, effective June 1, 2026, marking a leadership change at one of the largest packaged food companies in North America.
Brase will also join Conagra’s Board of Directors. He succeeds Sean Connolly, who will step away from his leadership roles and from the Board on May 31, 2026, after more than a decade of leadership.
Brase brings more than 35 years of consumer goods experience, with deep expertise in strategic portfolio management, brand building and driving operational excellence to deliver profitable growth.
Most recently, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of The J.M. Smucker Co., where he oversaw the company’s US retail, international and Away from Home businesses, as well as its sales, operations and supply chain functions.
During his tenure at Smucker, he sharpened strategic and operational execution, drove growth in key brands and led significant productivity improvements.
Before that, Brase spent approximately 30 years at Procter & Gamble (P&G), ultimately becoming Senior Vice President and General Manager of P&G’s US$6 billion North America Family Care business.
During his P&G career, he drove profitable growth across major brands, including Charmin, Bounty, Puffs and Pampers, consistently delivering market share leadership and margin expansion.
Conagra said the leadership transition reflects its confidence in Brase’s ability to guide the business through its next phase.
The company has been working to balance sales growth with profitability across its portfolio of well-known brands in frozen foods, snacks, refrigerated items and grocery staples.
The outgoing CEO, Sean Connolly, leaves behind a legacy of significant portfolio reshaping.
Since joining in 2015, Connolly has led the US$10.9 billion acquisition of Pinnacle Foods, successfully expanded the company’s footprint in the high-growth frozen and snacks categories, and divested non-core assets to sharpen operational focus.
The new CEO will be expected to help Conagra remain competitive while maintaining the strength of its core brands.
The appointment signals a new chapter for Conagra as it looks to sharpen its strategic focus and build on recent performance trends.
With Brase at the helm, the company is likely to continue prioritizing efficiency, consumer insight and brand investment as it works to sustain growth in a difficult operating environment.
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