Mark Alexander named c.e.o. of Icelandic Provisions

NEW YORK — Mark R. Alexander, who left Campbell Soup Co. in March 2018 following a 30-year career there, has been named chief executive officer of Icelandic Provisions, maker of a traditional Icelandic skyr.

At Icelandic, Mr. Alexander will succeed Steve Platt, who will remain at the company in an advisory role. Mr. Platt had been c.e.o. since July 2016, following an 11-year career at Groupe Danone.

Icelandic said Mr. Alexander is joining the company at a “critical point” with a mandate to build on the brand’s success and “expand the brand’s presence with consumers.” The company said Mr. Alexander has a track record of “developing successful long-term growth strategies and consistently delivering strong results through brand marketing, innovation, customer development and supply-chain transformation.”

During his lengthy career at Campbell Soup, Mr. Alexander had risen to become one of the company’s top executives. Most recently he was a corporate senior vice-president and president of the company’s Americas division, its largest segment. Icelandic said that Mr. Alexander while at Campbell Soup delivered “competitive marketplace performance, significant margin expansion via innovation and M.&A.”

Earlier he led the company’s International division and was chief customer officer. Still earlier he held numerous leadership positions across Asia, Australia, Europe and North America.

Mr. Alexander said he was enthusiastic about Icelandic’s potential.

“I’ve watched Icelandic Provisions grow significantly in the three years since its launch, and it has been incredibly impressive to see how they’ve continued to evolve and become the fastest-growing brand in the dairy yogurt category,” he said. “I look forward to working with my new team to accelerate awareness, create new innovations, and develop aggressive go-to-market strategies to see the brand catapult to even greater long-term achievements.”

The company said Mr. Alexander will attend Expo West in early March where he, together with Icelandic colleagues, will unveil the company’s newest product range. Dubbed Krimi, the line of full fat skyr will be offered in four flavors: strawberry-rhubarb, vanilla bean, coconut-chocolate and mixed berry. Distribution will begin in July.

Icelandic Provisions skyr contains 15 to 17 grams of protein per serving and is 1.5% fat. The product may be found at 6,300 retail locations nationally after doubling distribution and sales in 2018. The company was established by Polaris Founders Capital as a partnership with the oldest and largest dairy cooperative in Iceland, MS Iceland Dairies.