DOWNERS GROVE, ILL. — Michiel Herkemij has been named executive vice-president and chief executive officer of the International Beverage business of Sara Lee Corp. He also has been named c.e.o. of “CoffeeCo” when it is spun-off from Sara Lee during the first half of 2012.

“We are very excited to have Michiel serve as the leader of our CoffeeCo business,” said Jan Bennink, executive chairman of Sara Lee. “He is the right leader to bring CoffeeCo to new heights and unleash the company’s true potential due to his extensive international experience in Asia, Africa, South America and Europe and his proven ability to manage top-performing teams, and his very strong marketing and sales background.”

Mr. Herkemij has been with Heineken n.v. and is currently president and c.e.o. of Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma, a beer manufacturer in Mexico that was acquired by Heineken in 2010. He also has been c.e.o. of Heineken’s Nigerian subsidiary.

Mr. Herkemij will assume the position by the first of December, and he takes over for Frank van Oers, who is leaving the company in early 2012.