J.M. Smucker Co. is restructuring its supply chain leadership team as part of a slew of executive changes meant to support its long-term growth, according to a Feb. 10 press release. 

The Jif peanut butter maker will eliminate the chief operating officer position, with COO John Brase having left the company, according to the release. Brase previously oversaw Smucker’s sales, operations and supply chain functions. 

In addition, Randy Day, SVP of operations, and Bryan Huston, SVP of information services and supply chain, plan to retire from their positions, according to the release. Both will stay with the company to support the transition to new leadership within their respective divisions. 

Smucker will commence a search for a new SVP of operations and supply chain to replace Day and Huston, who announced their plans to retire less than a year after assuming their current roles. The two leaders were promoted to support the company’s splitting of its manufacturing and supply chain functions. 

With several supply chain leaders leaving the company, Smucker has promoted Rob Ferguson to the newly created role of chief product supply officer and EVP of its coffee, pet and away from home business units, per the release. 

Ferguson previously served as SVP and general manager of coffee and procurement, and will now manage a host of new responsibilities, including oversight of operations, distribution, supply chain and procurement, per the release. His promotion became effective Feb. 9. 

“The creation of the Chief Product Supply Officer role, and our promotion of Rob to this position, underscores our strategic focus on driving profitability and earnings growth, and his strategic leadership of Coffee, Pet, and Away from Home will ensure continued focus on growth and margin expansion opportunities,” CEO Mark Smucker said in the release. 

After joining J.M. Smucker in 2015 following its acquisition of Big Heart Pet Brands, Ferguson first served the company as a company officer and SVP of supply chain services, according to a company bio. He later became SVP and general manager for U.S. retail pet foods, followed by coffee and procurement. 

In addition to changes within its supply chain, Smucker expanded the role of CFO Tucker Marshall to include the position of EVP of frozen handheld and spreads and sweet baked snacks. The company also promoted Jill Penrose to chief people and administrative officer and chief of staff. She previously served as chief people and company services officer.