Steven Cahillane has been named c.e.o. of Kellogg, effective Oct. 2.

BATTLE CREEK, MICH. — Steven A. Cahillane has been named chief executive officer of Kellogg Co., effective Oct. 2. He succeeds John A. Bryant, who has announced plans to retire. Mr. Cahillane most recently was president and c.e.o. of The Nature’s Bounty Co., a health and wellness business.

Mr. Cahillane also will join the company’s board of directors. Mr. Bryant will continue as executive chairman of the board until March 15, 2018, at which time Mr. Cahillane will assume the role of chairman and c.e.o.

“It has been my pleasure to serve as the c.e.o. of Kellogg Co. over the past seven years,” Mr. Bryant said. “I am even more confident in the future of our company today than at any other time in my 20 years with Kellogg. I’ve decided that the time is right to hand over the reins to a new leader who can continue the transformation of this great company.”

John Bryant has been Kellogg's c.e.o. for seven years.

Prior to Nature’s Bounty, Mr. Cahillane held leadership roles at The Coca-Cola Co., most recently as president of Coca-Cola Americas. He also was president and c.e.o. of the Coca-Cola Refreshments business, president of Coca-Cola Enterprises in North America and president of Coca-Cola Enterprises in Europe.

Previously, he held various senior leadership roles at AB InBev. He has a master’s of business administration from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Northwestern University.

“Steve clearly has had a distinguished career leading successful C.P.G. businesses throughout the world, including his terrific work recasting Nature’s Bounty as a consumer-facing health and wellness company,” said Donald Knauss, lead director, Kellogg Co. board of directors. “With his breadth of experience, he truly understands the global marketplace in which we are operating as well as the consumer and retailer trends that will serve as potent sources of growth for Kellogg going forward. Further, Steve possesses strong strategic thinking ability, understands the levers that drive business performance and has demonstrated an ability to build and inspire outstanding teams. Steve is the right person to energize our teams and bring new thinking to our company as we seek to achieve our long-term growth objectives.”