Ocean Spray Cranberries has appointed Abigail Buckwalter as President and CEO, selecting a consumer packaged goods and healthcare executive to lead the nearly century-old agricultural cooperative into its next phase of growth.
Buckwalter joins Ocean Spray from Nestlé Health Science U.S., where she served as CEO and led a workforce of more than 6,000 employees overseeing a multibillion-dollar portfolio of consumer and healthcare brands. She brings approximately 20 years of global leadership experience across consumer packaged goods and healthcare markets.
“Abigail is a transformational leader,” says Peter P. Dhillon, Chairman of Ocean Spray’s board of directors. Dhillon cites her experience driving growth, building brands and fostering a people-first culture as key factors in the appointment.
During her tenure at Nestlé Health Science, Buckwalter held leadership roles across Europe, Oceania, and North America. Ocean Spray says she played a key role in strategic portfolio reviews, business turnarounds, operational improvements, and innovation initiatives that supported market share gains and profitable growth.
Buckwalter succeeds Tom Hayes, who announced his retirement in December 2025 and stepped down from the role in March after more than five years leading the cooperative. Hayes remained in an advisory capacity while Ocean Spray conducted its CEO search.
Buckwalter says changing consumer expectations around taste, health, and wellness create opportunities for the cranberry cooperative and its portfolio of products.
Ocean Spray, owned by approximately 700 family farmers across the U.S., Canada, and Chile, markets cranberry-based beverages, ingredients, and snacks in more than 100 countries.
