15 - PAUL GRIMWOOD, CEO, Nestlé USA
Like several other CEOs on our list, Nestlé USA CEO and chairman Paul Grimwood is not from the US. Born in North Yorkshire in the UK, he spent most of his career in Europe before heading across the pond in 2012.
Pathway to the top: Grimwood began his career at Mars, where he held a variety of commercial roles in sales, marketing and exports. He then spent four years at Highland Distillers as managing director UK & Ireland.
He joined Nestlé in 2001 as regional director for Purina Petcare, and was later promoted to vice president for operations for Northern Europe with Nestlé S.A, based in Switzerland. In 2006 he became managing director of Nestlé Confectionery (UK), was appointed CEO of Nestlé UK and Ireland in 2009, and invited to head up the Nestlé USA business in October 2012.
Education: Grimwood has a bachelor’s degree in Business Studies from Huddersfield University, UK.
