Former Ben & Jerry’s CEO takes same job with Sterling-Rice Group

BOULDER — Walt Freese, a top executive with Ben & Jerry’s, Stonyfield Farm and Celestial Seasonings, is the new president and chief executive of the Sterling-Rice Group, a Boulder-based advertising firm.

Freese replaces Buddy Ketchner who left the firm in January to pursue other opportunities, according to a company spokeswoman. Ketchner held various jobs with Sterling-Rice for 27 years, most recently serving as president.

Over the past 15 years, Freese has been CEO or president of Ben & Jerry’s, Stonyfield Farm, Celestial Seasonings and most recently, BPI Sports Inc., a sports nutrition company based in Florida.

SPONSORED CONTENT

People Powered: Preparing Longmont Businesses for Economic Success

Longmont Chamber and FNBO present People Powered on April 24, 2024, aiming to inform business owners about workforce development, housing, and transportation issues.

During his nine-year tenure at Ben & Jerry’s, he turned around the U.S. ice cream business by doubling the size of the global business and driving category-leading margins.

Most recently, Freese served as a board member for Dave’s Killer Bread and an operating partner with Goode Partners, a private-equity firm where he focused on consumer brands in the health-and-wellness sector.

Rick Sterling, founding partner and chairman of the board of Sterling-Rice Group, in a prepared statement said Freese brings a set of skills, experience and leadership style that are “perfect for this company. … We’ve flourished for nearly 32 years by being a change agent for some of the most sophisticated companies in the world. We have always had big ambitions and high standards, and we look forward to Walt’s leadership and fresh perspective.”

The Sterling-Rice Group specializes in consumer insights, business strategy, innovation, advertising and design.