J.M. Smucker announces new corporate officers and promotions

ORRVILLE, Ohio J.M. Smucker Co. announced the promotion of corporate officer John Mayer and the election of Jim Brown and Jeannette L. Knudsen as corporate officers of the company.

Mayer, currently a corporate officer and VP customer development, was promoted to the position of VP sales, grocery market, effective June 1. Mayer has been with the company for 29 years and has held a number of roles within the company, including district sales manager, Florida; regional sales manager, Southern region; and director customer development. Mayer succeeds Don Hurrle who is retiring June 30, 2009, after more than 33 years with the company.

Brown, currently VP U.S. grocery sales, was promoted to a corporate officer and will report to Mayer. Brown has been a Smucker employee for more than 20 years, serving in a number of roles including Ohio Direct Sales Force; district sales manager positions in Minneapolis, Chicago, and Ohio Direct; regional sales manager, Central; national sales manager; and VP national sales, grocery with direct responsibility for managing our relationship with J.M. Smucker's national sales agent, Advantage Sales & Marketing, Inc.

Knudsen joined the company in 2002 and has been the company's acquisition and securities counsel and assistant secretary since 2007. Knudsen succeeds M. Ann Harlan as corporate secretary, a position Harlan has held since 2003. Harlan will continue to serve as VP and general counsel.