Jennifer Bentz has been named Executive Vice President, Insights, Innovation, and Marketing Services, according to a recent announcement from Utz Brands.

As the company works to increase its market share potential in the salty snack category, Bentz will be in charge of all insights and analytics, innovation, and marketing services departments. He will also strengthen the company’s e-commerce and digital marketing skills. Howard Friedman, the CEO of Utz, will be her supervisor.

“Ms. Bentz comes to Utz with over 30 years of experience in marketing roles, most recently as Executive Vice President, Applied Technology and Insights at CLIF Bar & Co. At CLIF Bar & Co., Ms. Bentz led a cross-functional team and successfully infused consumer understanding into marketing activation to deliver consumer growth goals. She built a commercial analytics capability utilizing first-party data, enabling personalization and successful new product launches, and played a pivotal role in developing marketing and innovation strategies based on customized consumer and shopper insights,” a recent press release reveals.

Bentz was the Chief Client Officer at Mintel before joining CLIF Bar & Co. There, she oversaw the Consulting and Global Key Account teams in a variety of sectors, including the food and beverage, financial services, insurance, and technology industries. She held top marketing leadership positions before joining Mintel at Kraft Foods and Tyson Foods.

“I believe that Jen’s influential leadership, strategic agility, and drive for results make her an excellent fit for Utz. Her expertise in insights, innovation, and marketing services will be instrumental in propelling our growth and enhancing our understanding of consumers, and it’s a privilege to have Jen join our team,” Howard Friedman, Chief Executive Officer of Utz, mentioned.

Bentz graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in Marketing with a Sociology minor. Through her ties with and positions on advisory boards, she continues to be actively involved in the sector.