OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL — Sara Lee Frozen Bakery, a manufacturer of premium frozen baked goods, named Peter Laport its next CEO.
In this role, Laport will lead Sara Lee’s next phase of growth, focusing on strengthening leadership and culture, deepening customer partnerships, and advancing operational excellence and quality, in collaboration with Kohlberg, the middle-market private equity firm that owns Sara Lee Frozen Bakery.
“Sara Lee Frozen Bakery is a trusted brand with talented people and products that matter in everyday moments,” Laport said. “I’m honored to work alongside this talented team to build on the company’s solid foundation, strengthen our culture and customer relationships, and drive preference among consumers and foodservice customers by delivering consistent quality and trusted performance.”
Laport brings more than three decades of leadership experience to the role, overseeing consumer and food businesses across North America and global markets. He is recognized for building resilient organizations, aligning teams with clear strategy and execution, and earning customer trust while driving sustainable growth.
Most recently, Laport served as CEO of Arctic Glacier Premium Ice, where he led a successful transformation that strengthened leadership and positioned the company for long-term value creation. He previously held senior leadership roles at various big-name companies, including Dunkin’ Brands and Nestlé.
“Peter brings a rare combination of enterprise leadership, operational discipline, and a people-centered approach to Sara Lee Frozen Bakery,” said Gus Harwood, partner at Kohlberg. “His ability to align strategy, teams and execution makes him exceptionally well-suited to spearhead the company’s exciting next chapter. We are grateful to Craig for the role he has played in positioning the business for long-term success and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
Laport succeeds Craig Bahner, who is stepping down from his role at the baking company.
“It has been a privilege to lead Sara Lee Frozen Bakery over the past eight years,” Bahner said. “I am proud of the strong operational foundation the team has set and am confident in the company’s future success under Peter’s leadership.”
