Tony Verlezza is an accomplished supply chain executive and business leader with a strong background in manufacturing and operations management. He has worked for several blue-chip food manufacturing companies, including Kraft Foods, Dean Foods, and Borden Inc. He also worked at Unilever, where he served as the Vice President of Supply Chain for its $2 B North American Ice Cream group. In that role, he built and managed the total supply chain for the most successful frozen desserts company within Unilever, accounting for approximately 30% of their global output. The company portfolio included the Breyers, Klondike, and Ben & Jerry’s brands.
He has managed several significant supply chain integrations, including Stop & Shop’s fluid milk and water operations for Dean Foods, Unilever’s Canadian Ice Cream business, and Ben & Jerry’s, along with the manufacturing oversight of multi factory and distribution networks in NA. He has a strong background in the development and direction of the capital investment budgeting process, with experience and expertise in rapid and effective innovation execution. During his tenure with Unilever, his logistics group led the top rated North American frozen desserts customer service supply chain in the Cannondale survey.
He has advised private equity firms on acquisitions, business evaluations, and manufacturing network optimizations, as well as acquisition due diligence. His management advisory work includes interim assignments as supply chain vice president and chief operating officer. He has also led several factory performance initiatives for various companies, strategic business reviews, site selection, and plant commissioning as part of his project work.
He has guest lectured at several universities, including the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, La Salle University and the Philadelphia School of Pharmacy at the University of the Sciences. He holds a B.S in Biological Sciences / Microbiology from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, CT, where he has also guest lectured, and served as Vice Chairman of the Foundation Board of Directors and the School of Business Advisory Council. In addition, he also holds an M.B.A. from LaSalle University in Philadelphia.