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Mike Messersmith

President, North America at Oatly

Mike Messersmith is the President of Oatly North America, a position he has held since the company's U.S. launch in 2017. Under his leadership, Oatly has become a significant player in the plant-based milk market, particularly known for its oat milk products. The brand has successfully expanded its reach across major retailers in the U.S., including Target and Whole Foods, and has seen substantial growth in sales, particularly during the pandemic.12

Background and Career

Education::

  • MBA from Harvard Business School
  • Master's in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University
  • Bachelor's degree from Duke University

Professional Experience::

  • Oatly: President of North America (2017 - Present)
  • The Nature’s Bounty Co.: Vice President of Marketing (2015 - 2017)
  • Chobani: Vice President of Marketing (2013 - 2015)
  • Frito Lay: Senior Marketing Manager (2010 - 2013)
  • U.S. Navy: Served as Reactor Controls Division Officer on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and Administrative Officer on USS Shiloh (2003 - 2008)

Mike's career prior to Oatly included various marketing roles in the consumer packaged goods sector, as well as military service where he managed nuclear engineering operations on aircraft carriers. His diverse background combines strategic marketing expertise with operational management skills.123

Vision for Oatly

Messersmith aims to broaden the appeal of oat milk beyond niche markets, advocating for its acceptance across diverse demographics and regions. He emphasizes a balanced approach to retail and food service, ensuring that Oatly maintains a strong presence both in grocery stores and coffee shops.24 His leadership has been pivotal during a period of intense competition in the plant-based sector, where Oatly is working to differentiate itself amid growing competition from other brands.1

Personal Life

Mike resides in Manhattan with his wife and dog, reflecting a personal commitment to urban living while leading a brand that champions sustainable food alternatives.1

Highlights

Feb 1 · linkedin

I don’t post on here that much - definitely not enough to capture the magic of this oatmilk rocket ship and all the incredible people that have made it happen.

After seven years with OATLY, I’m here to share that I’ll be departing in February. I truly believe that change is healthy and I am ready to take a breath after pushing the pedal through the floor every day for years. What an incredible, amazing, rewarding ride. This has been bigger, faster, and more successful than I could have ever imagined and the OATLY team is just getting started. I am so so confident in the future trajectory of OATLY and the incredible leadership we have at every level from board to CEO to our new US leader Helge Weitz (who is fantastic, comes from leading our DACH business and whom I’ve known for years) and my amazingly talented US team.   I could write a post literally every day for months about the people that I have had the pleasure to share this OATLY journey with over the past seven years - both in the company and outside the company, still here and since departed to take on new challenges. I value it all so much and appreciate you all.

So, for now I’m excited to take a breath, keep buying OATLY at my local bodega on the UWS, and then get back to building something incredible in my next chapter.

Apr 29 · linkedin

Never a bad afternoon to do an Oatly soft serve taste test.

Brought some high profile sophisticated palletes with me - Dylan Knox Ahmed I. Yansaneh Daniel Zettner

Related Questions

What are Mike Messersmith's main challenges as President of North America at Oatly?
How did Mike Messersmith's background in the Navy influence his career in the CPG industry?
What strategies is Mike Messersmith implementing to expand Oatly's product line?
How has Oatly's stock performance impacted its growth plans under Mike Messersmith's leadership?
What are Mike Messersmith's thoughts on the future of the plant-based milk market?
Mike Messersmith
Mike Messersmith, photo 1
Mike Messersmith, photo 2
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Location

New York, New York, United States