DOWNERS GROVE, ILL. — Chuck Metzger has been named chief executive officer of Hearthside Food Solutions. He succeeds Richard G. Scalise, who founded the company and will remain as chairman of the board.

Mr. Metzger most recently was the company’s chief operating officer. Prior to joining Hearthside, he led operations at Greencore USA and Peacock Foods, which were acquired by Hearthside in 2018. Earlier in his career, Mr. Metzger oversaw regional beverage operations for the Coca-Cola Co. A 23-year tenure at Kraft Foods included experience in leading global manufacturing strategy, North American food service supply chain and plant operations.

“The addition of Chuck Metzger to our management team has allowed us to execute our long-term succession plan, and I am now stepping back from day-to-day leadership to focus my efforts on strategy and M.&A. as the chairman of the board,” Mr. Scalise said. “I am proud of the business we have built over the last 10 years and excited to have such an operationally talented leader in Chuck Metzger to lead Hearthside in this next chapter of growth.”

Hearthside Food Solutions is a contract manufacturer and the nation’s largest independent bakery, producing a variety of nutrition bars, cookies, cereals, baked foods and snacks at 38 manufacturing facilities across the United States and Europe. An investment group led by Charlesbank Capital Partners and Partners Group acquired the business in 2018. Mr. Metzger joined Hearthside Food Solutions in 2018, when it acquired Greencore USA, the U.S. subsidiary of Dublin, Ireland-based Greencore Group P.L.C. and parent company of Peacock Foods.

“We had the opportunity to partner with Chuck during our investment in Peacock Foods, and he has demonstrated, across his career, a strong mix of operational savvy, customer focus, and an ability to build effective teams,” said Ryan Carroll, managing director at Charlesbank. “We look forward to continuing to work with Chuck and Rich to help Hearthside achieve its long-term potential.”