A long-time executive at Kellogg Company is retiring.

Battle Creek-based Kellogg Company says this week in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that Paul Norman, president of Kellogg North America, will retire on April 1.

He will remain with the company until then to "help ensure a smooth transition," Kellogg Company told the Business Journal.

Norman has been with the company for more than 30 years and attained the role of president in 2015.

Kellogg says in the SEC filing Norman is leaving “to pursue other opportunities” and that until his successor is named, the Kellogg North America business will report to CEO Steve Cahillane.

Cahillane says in a letter accompanying the SEC filing the company is grateful and appreciative and wishes Norman and his family “only the very best.”

“Paul has had a remarkable career with Kellogg with a track record of driving profitable growth and developing businesses around the globe,” Cahillane said in a statement to the Business Journal. “Over the past three decades, Paul has made countless contributions to virtually every aspect of our company and has been a truly inspirational leader for our people.”

Norman’s tenure

Norman joined Kellogg in 1987 as part of the U.K. sales organization.

From 1989 to 1996, he was promoted to several marketing roles in France and Canada.

He was then promoted to director of marketing for Kellogg de Mexico in 1997, to VP of marketing for Kellogg USA in 1999, to president of Kellogg Canada Inc. in 2000 and to managing director of the U.K./Republic of Ireland in 2002.

In 2004, Norman was promoted to VP of Kellogg Company and president, U.S. Morning Foods.

In 2005, he was appointed SVP, Kellogg Company.

He was president of Kellogg International from 2008 to 2013, when he was named chief growth officer. 

In 2015, he was named president, Kellogg North America and became responsible for managing a portfolio of businesses, including U.S. Morning Foods, U.S. Snacks, U.S. Frozen Foods, U.S. Specialty Channels and Canada.

Education

Norman received a bachelor’s degree with honors in French from Portsmouth Polytechnic in Portsmouth, England.

Kellogg Company

Founded in 1906, Kellogg Company (NYSE: K) offers more than 1,600 foods, including cereal, crackers, savory snacks and frozen foods.

Its brands include Kellogg’s, Keebler, Special K, Pringles, Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, Pop-Tarts, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Cheez-It, Eggo, Mini-Wheats and more.

Net sales for Kellogg North America in 2017 were up 1 percent over 2016, while total sales for Kellogg Company were down 0.7 percent from $13.01 billion in 2016 to $12.92 billion in 2017.