Ronald Kesselman
Mr. Kesselman was Chairman and CEO of Elmer’s Products Holdings from 1995-2003, a Kohlberg, Kravis and Roberts (KKR) investment. After the sale to the Berwind Group in 2003 and through 2004 he continued as CEO and as a member of Board of Directors of the Berwind Consumer Products Group overseeing the integration of Elmer’s and Hunt Products, another Berwind portfolio company.
Mr. Kesselman is currently on the Board of Directors of American Italian Pasta Co. where he serves on various committees and on the Board of Directors of Homax Products, an investment of Olympus Partners. He consults with selected private equity groups on strategy, acquisitions and portfolio management. Mr. Kesselman served on the Board of Directors of Gardenburger, Inc. through 2002, held the position of non-executive Chairman and was a member of the audit committee.
Mr. Kesselman has extensive management experience which has resulted in a unique combination of strategic and operating skills including acquisitions and divestitures. He has worked for Fortune 500 companies (Quaker, Borden and Mattel), entrepreneurial companies (Leo’s Quality Foods and Revell), executed an LBO (Placo Products) where he was the controlling shareholder and private equity groups (KKR).
Mr. Kesselman started his career in 1964 at Leo Burnett Advertising in Chicago setting the stage for his career in consumer marketing. In 1966 he joined the Quaker Oats Company and focused on developing and expanding key brand franchises rising to a Group Manager. He joined Borden in 1973 and progressed through various management positions and ultimately rose to Sr. Vice President of the Foods Division managing numerous brands.
In 1980, after seven years with Borden, Mr. Kesselman became involved in more entrepreneurial endeavors. He joined Leo’s Quality Foods as President where a successful turn-around was accomplished by improving management capability, lowering manufacturing costs, and rationalizing the product line. Continuing in this direction he joined Revell Toys as President and CEO, another turn-around, which required significant financial and operational restructuring.
In 1984 he purchased Placo Products Co., a $10 million toy company, in an LBO transaction. Five years later, after renewing the product line, transferring manufacturing offshore and forming a partnership with a Pac Rim supplier he sold the company to the partner.
Mr. Kesselman joined Mattel Toys in 1989. As Sr. Vice President he managed licensed properties, preschool and boys toys, and identified and developed leading edge new electronic toys, which significantly contributed to Mattel’s improved revenue and profit performance.
In 1992, after a 12-year absence, he returned to Borden as a Group Vice President. During the first 3 years he led the turn-around of the Food Service Division eventually orchestrating its sale to Heinz. In 1995, after the acquisition by KKR, Borden was split into independent companies and Mr. Kesselman was elected Chairman of Elmer’s Products, Inc. and Wise Foods, Inc. In 1997 he became Chairman and CEO of Elmer’s Products, Inc. Under his leadership Elmer’s sales doubled by expanding the brand franchise and strengthening customer alliances through supply chain partnerships. A strategic acquisition was also successfully integrated. EBITDA increased three-fold driven by the combination of increased revenues, cost controls including manufacturing rationalization, outsourcing and leveraging SG&A. Elmer’s was sold to the Berwind Group in 2003 and Mr. Kesselman continued as CEO through the first year transition and integration period
Mr. Kesselman was born in Brooklyn, New York. He has an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin and during his college years interned in the Kennedy administration. He also has an MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University and is a member of the Kellogg Alumni Advisory Board.
He has also been involved in numerous community programs including the being a Board member of the Mid-Ohio FoodBank, SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise), was in YPO and continues in WPO. He has three grown children and resides in New Albany, Ohio.