Campbell Soup Co. has named B. Craig Owens s.v.p. and c.f.o. and chief administrative officer (c.a.o.), effective Oct. 6. Owens will report to Campbell president and c.e.o. Douglas R. Conant.

Owens is joining Campbell from the Delhaize Group, where he's been e.v.p. and c.f.o. since 2001. Belgium-based Delhaize operates about 2,600 stores in seven countries, includes U.S. supermarket chains Food Lion, Hannaford, and Sweetbay Supermarket.

As c.f.o. at Camden, N.J.-based Campbell, Owens will directly manage the company's controller’s, corporate development, investor relations, corporate audit, treasury, and tax departments. He replaces Robert A. Schiffner, who stepped down as c.f.o. on Aug. 1 and will retire on Jan. 31, 2009. In the meantime, he will assist in Owens’ transition. In the newly created position of c.a.o., Owens will oversee Campbell's information technology and global supply chain functions.

Before joining Delhaize, Owens held several general management and senior financial positions with Coca-Cola and various Coca-Cola bottlers from 1981 to 2001. His titles included region director of Coca-Cola HBC, the largest European soft drink company; president and c.e.o. of Coca-Cola Enterprise France; and controller of all Coca-Cola Company-owned bottlers in the U.S.

"His strong financial acumen and global food and beverage industry experience make him an ideal choice to be our c.e.o.," said Conant, adding that Owens' "extensive general management expertise, including his experience managing supply chain and information technology functions, from nearly two decades with Coca-Cola" were additional pluses.

Owens would also be key in helping the company to continue to grow its global supply chain and information technology functions, noted Conant.