Sokol introduces new leadership team

Sokol Custom Food Ingredients, a family-owned company that has been developing custom food formulations for 125 years, recently introduced a new leadership team as John Novak retires as president. Tim Novak will take on company leadership as president.

Michael Novak has been promoted as chief operating officer. Paul Noble has been promoted as chief commercial officer and Fiore De Simone has been promoted as director of procurement & logistics.

“It has been an honour and privilege to be a part of Sokol’s 127-year history,” said John Novak, retiring president, Sokol. “I have enjoyed each day of my 40 years spent with the company and am extremely proud of the work our people have done together and the families and customers we have served along the way. Not many people experience the joy of turning the leadership of a family-owned enterprise over to their children. I have the privilege of doing just that and know Sokol will flourish as a result. Tim and Michael have both worked hard to earn their new roles, learning all aspects of our business, gaining outside experience with other companies, and achieving graduate degrees in business. I am most proud to know they will take care of our cherished team and our valued customer partners.”

“I am thrilled to join our family business at such an exciting time,” said Tim Novak, president, Sokol. “My father has set the bar very high but our commitment to our employees, customers, and brands will remain unchanged during this transition. Our team will continue to work tirelessly on our culture centred around quality and safety. While I do expect a new energy, the same entrepreneurial and customer-centric energy has propelled the business for five generations and that will never change.”

Tim Novak brings a wealth of private equity investing, general management of manufacturing operations, and corporate development in the food industry to Sokol. He led the investment and management of a multi-site packaging manufacturing business prior to being named president of Sokol. He has overseen two greenfield buildouts and startups in Boston and Cleveland and has also held various leadership roles at a private equity-backed global baking business. Tim Novak earned an MBA from Northwestern University (Kellogg) and a BA from the University of Dayton.