Nestlé Reveals New Operations Chief to Replace Retiring Magdi Batato

Nestlé SA food and drink company announced it has appointed the new company’s head of operations. Effective on July 1, Stephanie Pullings Hart will be the new deputy head of operations, and she will be stationed at the firm’s HQ in Switzerland.

As per Food Business News, Pullings Hart will take over the role from Magdi Batato, who is set to retire after working for Nestlé for 30 years. The retiring executive held various positions at the company, including in the procurement, logistics, and sustainability units at various Nestlé facilities across three continents.

Currently, Pullings Hart works at Warby Parker, an online retailer of prescription glasses, contact lenses, and sunglasses based in New York City. As its senior vice president of operations, she is in charge of manufacturing, customer experience, and supply chain.

Before joining Warby Parker, she worked for Beyond Meat as senior vice president of global operations. Pullings Hart is actually a returning executive at Nestlé because she has been with the company for 23 years and held various roles before working for other companies.

While her appointment is taking effect in July, Pullings Hart will officially assume her role as head of operations at Nestlé on Jan. 1, 2024. On that same day, she will also be joining the company’s executive board.

Meanwhile, Nestlé confirmed the retirement of Magdi Batato. He will be formally stepping down in early 2024.

“On behalf of our board of directors and our executive board, I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Magdi for his many contributions to Nestle,” Nestlé’s chief executive officer, Mark Schneider, said in a statement. “We wish him all the best for this next chapter. At the same time, we are delighted that Stephanie is returning to Nestle.”

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