Post Taps Turnaround Expert for Consumer Brands Division

ST. LOUIS, MO – February 05, 2026 – Post Holdings has appointed seasoned consumer packaged goods (CPG) executive Greg Pearson as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of its largest subsidiary, Post Consumer Brands, effective April 1, 2026. The move signals a strategic effort to invigorate the division, which houses iconic cereal brands and a growing pet food portfolio, amidst a challenging market landscape.

Pearson, who brings 25 years of industry experience, will succeed Nicolas Catoggio. Catoggio was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the parent company, Post Holdings, in January, a move that set the stage for this significant leadership transition. Pearson will report directly to Catoggio, working closely with him in the coming months to ensure a smooth handover.

"Greg's experience leading and transforming businesses in grocery and pet, across brands and private label, is a great fit for our Post Consumer Brands organization," said Rob Vitale, Post Holdings' President and Chief Executive Officer, in a statement. "We are excited to welcome Greg to Post and look forward to working together to build on Post Consumer Brands' success."

A Specialist in Business Transformation

Pearson’s appointment is notable for his extensive and successful track record in revitalizing CPG businesses. He joins Post from Compana Pet Brands, where he served as CEO since January 2023. At Compana, he spearheaded significant transformation efforts, focusing on optimizing the company's supply chain, overhauling its commercial strategy, and reshaping product portfolios to drive profitable growth. His leadership there was marked by an expansion into new international markets and product innovations, including specialized dairy-based pet foods.

Prior to his role in the pet care sector, Pearson was the CEO of Pretzels, Inc., a private label and contract manufacturer. He led a series of growth and operational initiatives that culminated in the company's successful sale to The Hershey Company in 2021, a clear demonstration of his ability to create and realize significant shareholder value.

His diverse background also includes pivotal roles at the online pet retail giant Chewy.com, where he managed brand marketing and was instrumental in building its private brands business from the ground up. His early career at General Mills in cereal and baked goods brand marketing gives him foundational experience in one of Post's core categories, creating a unique blend of legacy brand knowledge and modern, disruptive business acumen.

Navigating a Shifting CPG Landscape

Pearson will take the helm at a critical time for Post Consumer Brands. The division is grappling with market headwinds that are affecting the broader CPG industry. For its fiscal year 2025, the segment reported a 2.1% decrease in net sales to $4.02 billion and an 8.7% decline in profit to $493.9 million.

More recent figures from the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 highlight the specific challenges. While net sales saw a quarterly increase, this was largely due to the acquisition of 8th Avenue Food & Provisions. Excluding that benefit, underlying volumes painted a tougher picture: pet food volumes fell by 13.2%, and cereal and granola volumes declined by 8.1%. These decreases were attributed to broader category declines, distribution losses in pet food, and difficult comparisons to prior-year promotional activities.

These challenges—from category-wide slumps in ready-to-eat cereal to intense competition in the private label and co-manufactured pet food space—are precisely the kinds of issues Pearson’s career has prepared him to tackle. His experience in optimizing supply chains, refocusing commercial strategies at Compana, and navigating the private label world at Pretzels, Inc. and Chewy.com directly addresses the current pressures facing Post Consumer Brands.

A Broader Strategic Reshuffle

Pearson's arrival is part of a larger, deliberate executive realignment at Post Holdings, reflecting a long-term succession strategy. The promotion of Nicolas Catoggio to the corporate COO role underscores this. During his tenure as CEO of Post Consumer Brands, which began in September 2021, Catoggio was praised for his strategic leadership in transforming the division from a pure-play cereal company into a diversified, multi-category organization encompassing pet food, peanut butter, and other food products through successful integrations of acquisitions.

In his new, expanded role, Catoggio is positioned to apply his operational and strategic expertise across Post Holdings' entire portfolio, which includes Weetabix, Michael Foods, and Bob Evans Farms. This move, coupled with Pearson's appointment, suggests a dual focus for the parent company: strengthening corporate-level operational oversight while installing a proven transformation specialist to drive performance in its largest and most complex division.

As Pearson prepares to take charge from the division's headquarters in Lakeville, Minnesota, the industry will be watching closely. His mandate appears clear: leverage his deep and varied CPG experience to navigate market volatility, sharpen the competitive edge of Post's diverse portfolio, and steer the consumer brands division back toward a path of consistent, profitable growth. His success will be crucial for the future of some of America's most recognized breakfast and pet food brands.