The board of directors at consumer goods and industrial products packaging supplier Berry Global unanimously named Kevin Kwilinski as the company’s new CEO in an announcement Tuesday. Starting Oct. 2 he will replace CEO Tom Salmon, who announced in February that he would retire soon.

Kwilinski is currently president and CEO at labels company Multi-Color Corp., where he led and integrated multiple acquisitions. He has nearly three decades of packaging industry experience, according to Berry’s news release, and a “track record of driving operational excellence, expanding margins and managing complex global operations.”

“What attracted me to Berry is its ability to support customers at every stage of the product development process and deliver the most innovative solutions in the market,” Kwilinski said in the news release. “The efforts that Tom and the team have made over the last several years to pivot Berry’s portfolio into higher-growth markets, including food service, health and beauty, dispensing and pharmaceuticals, have created a strong foundation for future growth, and I am eager to capitalize on the opportunities ahead.”

Prior to his time at MCC, Kwilinski was CEO at label business Fort Dearborn Co., which merged with MCC in 2021 as part of a deal with private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. Kwilinski also previously served as CEO at Paperworks Industries.

“Kevin is a proven leader who knows our industry well. He has spent the last 15 years serving as the CEO of companies within the packaging space and, as an Indiana native, he understands the importance of Berry Global to the State,” Stephen Sterrett, lead independent director, said in a statement. As part of the leadership change, the board elected Sterrett to succeed Salmon as chairman effective Oct. 2.

During the company’s fiscal Q3 earnings call last week, an analyst asked Salmon about the progress to name a successor and noted that “maybe we were expecting an announcement” on the call. Salmon said the “board is fully engaged” in the search and he expected a successor announcement prior to the next earnings call. Salmon has been CEO since 2017 and will remain with Berry as an advisor through the end of this year to ensure a smooth transition for Kwilinski.

"It has been a privilege to lead Berry’s talented employees as CEO ... and I am extremely proud of the many accomplishments achieved by the Berry team during my tenure,” Salmon said in a statement. “The Board and I have full confidence in Kevin and in his ability to join with the rest of the leadership team to take the Company forward into its next chapter."

During their fiscal Q2 earnings call in May, Berry executives detailed cost-cutting and optimization moves including "rationalizing," or reducing, 15 facilities globally. During last week's fiscal Q3 earnings call, Salmon said that Berry closed 20 facilities in the quarter.

Executives also said during the fiscal Q2 earnings call that sustainability-focused projects are a priority area for investment going forward. In June, the company announced a net-zero emissions by 2050 goal, which involves using less virgin plastic and transitioning to lighter, recycled or bio-based plastics. Berry released its 2022 ESG report in March, noting a 21% decline in scope 1 and scope 2 emissions since 2019 and a 28% year-over-year increase in its postconsumer recycled plastic purchases.