Shearer’s Foods is thrilled to announce the appointment of Steve Fuechtmann as our new Chief Financial Officer, effective April 2023. This strategic hire underscores Shearer’s Foods’ commitment to robust financial leadership and continued growth in the competitive snack food industry.
Fuechtmann brings a wealth of experience to Shearer’s Foods, cultivated over a distinguished career marked by significant achievements in financial management and business transformation. His journey began on a family farm in Minnesota, instilling in him a strong work ethic and grounded perspective. He earned his degree in accounting and launched his professional trajectory as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with the prestigious Arthur Andersen, within their audit division. This foundational experience provided him with a rigorous understanding of financial principles and corporate governance.
His career then progressed into the corporate sector, where he joined Best Buy and excelled across various roles within Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A). His expertise and strategic acumen led to his appointment as Director of Finance and CFO for Best Buy for Business. In this critical role, Fuechtmann demonstrated his ability to drive substantial financial improvements, successfully turning a loss-making division into a profitable entity through close collaboration with senior management.
Continuing his upward trajectory, Steve took on the position of Senior Director of FP&A at EcoLab, where he was responsible for shaping strategic and annual planning initiatives. His proven track record then led him to Schwan Foods, a major player in the food industry, as VP of FP&A and Treasury. At Schwan Foods, he played a key role in implementing a comprehensive financial planning process and contributing to the company’s recapitalization efforts. His contributions were quickly recognized with a promotion to CFO of Schwan’s largest segment, the Consumer Brands division. Partnering with a new CEO, Fuechtmann was instrumental in achieving a remarkable fivefold increase in business profitability through strategic enhancements in pricing strategies and supply chain streamlining. These accomplishments firmly establish his expertise in optimizing financial performance within large-scale food operations.
Prior to joining Shearer’s Foods, Steve served as CFO for Links Snacks, a substantial $1.4 billion family-owned enterprise specializing in beef jerky and meat snacks. His responsibilities encompassed oversight of all finance, treasury, and IT functions, highlighting his broad leadership capabilities. Following Links Snacks, he took on a new challenge at Kindeva, a $400 million private equity-backed company focused on drug delivery devices, further diversifying his experience in different business environments.
Shearer’s Foods is confident that Steve Fuechtmann’s extensive background and proven success in financial leadership make him an invaluable addition to the team. His decision to join Shearer’s Foods is a testament to his belief in our company’s significant business potential, clear vision, focused strategy, and demonstrated results within the shearer’s foods market. We are excited to welcome Steve and leverage his expertise to further strengthen our financial performance and drive continued success in the snack food industry.
Favorite Snack: Salt & Vinegar Chips
