As CFO, Ranelli Leads Beatrice Into the Future
(1994-1995) As the new CFO of TLC Beatrice Foods, John Ranelli found himself in the unusual position of getting to help choose his own boss: The company is looking for its second CEO since founder Reginald Lewis died 18 months ago. Until Ranelli's arrival, Beatrice had also been without a finance chief. "I don't worry about the past," Ranelli insists. "I have an opportunity to take a company into the future." The chance to reorganize Beatrice's management team wasn't the only lure. The company's food businesses are all located outside the U.S., and former Fulbright scholar Ranelli says he's always "wanted to work for a multinational company.”