Yeast and bakery ingredients specialist AB Mauri North America has added a new executive.

Rob Stevenson, a 36-year industry veteran, has been named vice president of baking ingredient innovation for St. Louis-based AB Mauri North America. In the role, Stevenson will lead the company’s baking ingredient innovation team and oversee the development and implementation of new products and ingredients.

Stevenson replaces Marie Thomas, who was recently promoted to a new managerial role in AB Mauri’s global bakery ingredient division in Made, The Netherlands.

Stevenson worked most recently as a director of Australian food ingredient manufacturer Gateway Products, where he oversaw technical sales, marketing and research and development divisions.

“Rob provides a global perspective on food trends and is an accomplished innovator across several sectors of the food industry,” says Mark Prendergast, president of AB Mauri North America. “Given Rob’s vision and leadership, I’m confident our team of passionate bakers and food scientists will continue to innovate and solve the challenges our customers face today and far into the future.”