Nestle USA, Glendale, Calif., said it named 23-year company veteranPaul Bakusas president of a newly formedNestle Pizzabusiness, which will be based in Chicago. Bakus most recently was vice president and general manager ofNestle's Baking Division.

In conjunction with Bakus' promotion, Nestle namedCindy Vallar, vice president of business development, as the Baking Division's new vice president and general manager.

Bakus joined Nestle's Carnation Company in 1987 as a sales management trainee. He later held marketing posts with Friskies Petcare, Buitoni, Stouffer's and Lean Cuisine. He was promoted to vice president of marketing with Nestle Prepared Foods in 2002. After a three-year assignment as vice president of operations for Zone Americas, Bakus was named to lead the Nestle Baking Division.

Officials said Vallar worked at Quaker Oats, Pillsbury and General Electric before joining Nestle. She started her Nestle career on the Nestle Prepared Foods marketing team. She was promoted to vice president of marketing for the Beverage Division. In 2000, she was named vice president and general manager for PowerBar.