As the snacking sector continues to boom, the popular cheese crisps brand Whisps is hitching its wagon to a star by announcing a new executive. Taking over the role of Chief Executive Officer, John Ghingo will offer 21 years of industry expertise at leading companies to help further the brand’s mission, drive innovation, and open new distribution channels.
“In just a few short years, Whisps has grown into a remarkable brand and laid a great foundation for the future that I’m excited to shape alongside the team,” said Ghingo. “After launching the first commercial, snackable cheese crisp that celebrated 100 percent real cheese, there’s been an appetite from its fans to see what Whisps can create next, bringing its love of artisan cheese to more clean label, real foods and snacks. I’m excited to merge my experience creating real, recognizable foods sourced from better food systems, with true innovations that delight consumers with solutions they will love.”
Most recently, Ghingo served as the President of Applegate, as noted in a release. During his four years in the role, he furthered its mission, Changing the Meat We Eat®, through a new brand strategy, increased innovation, bolstered supply chains, and established new partnerships.
Prior to his time at Applegate, Ghingo led the led the Silk and So Delicious Dairy Free brands for The Whitewave Company as President of plant-based food and beverages. He also spent 17 years at Mondelēz International, holding a series of general management and marketing leadership roles across several categories in both North America and around the globe.
Ghingo will take these years of experience to continue to grow the Whisps brand, which launched in 2015. Today, Whisps are a bestselling cheese crisp in the United States, with a household penetration of 7.5 percent.
Iris Snyder, Chief Financial Officer, shared insights on the company’s reach and how she expects Ghingo to impact further development.
“The average American consumes approximately 40 pounds of cheese per year, creating an immense opportunity for Whisps to grow,” she said. “Looking at what John has accomplished at other incredible brands, we’re confident that he’ll provide the vision we need to go from one aisle to many.”
As Ghingo steps into the position of CEO, Ilana Fischer, current CEO, will continue on with the Whisps brand through her new role as Advisor for the Board and executive leadership team.
Congratulations to both Ghingo and Fischer as they move forward in their careers!
