June 23, 2009 (FinancialWire) — Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT) has named W. Anthony Vernon to become president of the company’s North American operation in mid-August. Vernon, who joins Kraft from private equity firm Ripplewood Holdings, replaces Rick Searer, who will retire at the end of September.

Vernon is a 26-year veteran of the healthcare industry, principally in consumer businesses at Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ). Over the last three years he’s served as healthcare industry partner of Ripplewood Holdings.

At J&J, Vernon ran independent business units and led several of that company’s consumer brands, including Tylenol, Motrin, Pepcid AC, Imodium and Splenda.

Northfield, Illinois-based Kraft Foods is a consumer products firm whose brands include Kraft, Maxwell House, Oscar Mayer, Oreo, LU, Philadelphia, Tang, Toblerone and others.

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