CEO Louie Gentine Named Chairman of the Board

After 10 years of leading the company and the Sargento Family as our third generation Chief Executive Officer, Louie Gentine has been named Chairman of the Board in addition to his role as CEO. Louie succeeds his father, Lou Gentine, who became Chairman of the Board after Sargento founder Leonard A. Gentine’s death in 1996. Lou will remain on the board of directors. This new role for Louie continues the steady, family leadership Sargento has had since 1953. It is also a vote of confidence in Louie’s ability to lead Sargento now and into the future as we strive to become the most innovative, best-loved real food company.

Lou became president of Sargento in 1981 when the board of directors unanimously elected Lou to succeed Chuck Strobel (Leonard’s brother-in-law) as president of the company. Lou went on to lead Sargento for the next 32 years, longer than the company had been in existence when he first took office.

During Lou’s tenure and second-generation leadership, Sargento grew to become the company that we are today: a category leader with a premium position, through innovation, service and quality. Sargento became a household name and trusted national brand. During the 1990s, Sargento reigned as the undisputed market share leader in pre-packaged natural cheese due to our focus on innovation and the consumer.

Our cultural values of People, Pride & Progress came to be shortly after Lou became Chairman of the Board in 1996. With his father’s passing, Lou and his brothers Lee and Larry, codified Leonard’s mantra of treating people like family. Together, they defined the characteristics and behaviors we must demonstrate as employees of Sargento to grow and prosper for generations. These 20 values continue to guide us today: Accountability, Mutual Support, Innovation, Community Outreach.

In 2012 Lou was recognized by our industry with its highest honor – one that his father had earned 21 years prior. Lou earned the National Cheese Institute (NCI) Laureate Award in recognition of his lifetime of contributions to the cheese industry. The award was a fitting testament to the many ways Lou built upon Leonard’s legacy by introducing countless new products and patented processes that have fueled our success for three generations. This high achievement also considered the company’s philanthropic contributions to communities throughout Wisconsin and Lou’s dedicated volunteer work.

Though this role as Chairman and CEO is new for Louie his responsibility and care for the Sargento Family and our community is unchanged. He will continue to lead our business and our overall strategic direction while empowering each of us to nurture our culture and share our success with others.