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Post Holdings, Inc.

Packaged FoodsFounded 2012
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026

Founders

Who Founded Post Holdings?

William P. Stiritz · Founded 2012 · HQ today: St. Louis, Missouri

Who founded Post Holdings?

Post Holdings was founded by William P. Stiritz in 2012. It is now led by Nicolas Catoggio.

Founders
William P. Stiritz
Founded
2012
Headquarters
St. Louis, Missouri
Number of founders
1
Current CEO
Nicolas Catoggio (since 2026)
Where was Post Holdings founded?
Post Holdings was founded in Battle Creek, Michigan, United States in 2012.
When was Post Holdings founded?
Post Holdings was founded in 2012.
Who started Post Holdings?
Post Holdings was founded by William P. Stiritz.
How old is Post Holdings?
Post Holdings is 14 years old as of 2026.

Founding Story

The Post brand dates to 1895, when C.W. Post began making Postum in Battle Creek, Michigan, followed by Grape-Nuts in 1897. The business later became part of General Foods, then Kraft, and was bought by Ralcorp in 2008. In February 2012 Ralcorp spun Post off as an independent NYSE-listed company led by William Stiritz, and the new company began buying food businesses outside cereal.

William P. Stiritz

Co-founder 2012

Background

Before Post, William P. Stiritz led Ralston Purina as CEO for nearly two decades and later chaired Ralcorp Holdings, Energizer and Agribrands, spin-offs that came out of Ralston.

Role at Post Holdings, Inc.

William P. Stiritz is the founding Chairman and CEO of the modern Post Holdings. When Ralcorp spun off its Post cereal business in February 2012, Stiritz took charge of the new company and began the acquisition strategy that later added Michael Foods and MOM Brands. He handed the CEO role to Robert Vitale on November 1, 2014. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).

Post Holdings, Inc.: CEO & Leadership History

Full timeline →

Nicolas Catoggio

President and Chief Executive Officer

2026 – Present

Former Boston Consulting Group Managing Director and Senior Partner who advised Post on M&A diligence and integrations before joining.

Matthew J. Mainer

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

2022 – Present

As CFO, he steers the company's aggressive, highly acquisitive capital allocation strategy, acting as the primary architect behind its massive M&A playbook.

Robert V. Vitale

Executive Chairman (CEO 2014-2026)

2014 – Present

Previously Post's CFO; from October 1, 2026 advises on capital allocation as Executive Chairman.

William P. Stiritz

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

2012 – 2014

As the legendary Chairman and former CEO, the highly revered financial architect completely defined the company's complex, private-equity-style corporate structure.

Keep researching Post Holdings

Who Founded Post Holdings? FAQ

Who founded the Post cereal company and when was it established?

The Post cereal business was founded in 1895 in Battle Creek, Michigan, by industrialist, inventor, and health advocate Charles William (C.W.) Post.

How did C.W. Post invent Postum in 1895?

While seeking health treatments at the Battle Creek Sanitarium for digestive ailments, C.W. Post developed a healthy, caffeine-free roasted wheat and molasses beverage called 'Postum'. In 1895, operating out of a small barn with a second-hand peanut roaster, Post began commercial production, marketing Postum as a healthy coffee substitute.

How did C.W. Post invent Grape-Nuts in 1897?

In 1897, C.W. Post formulated Grape-Nuts, one of the world's very first ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, by baking whole-wheat and malted barley into hard loaves, grinding them into crunchy nuggets, and packaging them in moisture-proof boxes.

Who was Marjorie Merriweather Post and how did she build General Foods?

Marjorie Merriweather Post, daughter and heir of C.W. Post, inherited the Postum Cereal Company in 1914 upon her father's death. A effective businesswoman, she transformed the company into General Foods Corporation in 1929 through acquisitions of Jell-O, Maxwell House coffee, Birdseye frozen foods, and Baker's Chocolate.

How did modern Post Holdings emerge from Ralcorp Holdings in 2012?

In February 2012 Ralcorp Holdings spun off its Post cereal business as an independent NYSE company under the ticker POST, with William P. Stiritz as Chairman and CEO.

What model industrial town did C.W. Post build in Texas?

In 1906, C.W. Post founded Post, Texas (the county seat of Garza County), building a model utopian agricultural and cotton milling community designed to provide clean, affordable housing and economic self-sufficiency for working-class families.

Who was Marjorie Merriweather Post and how did she transform Postum into General Foods?

Marjorie Merriweather Post inherited Postum Cereal Company in 1914 upon her father's death. Working with husband E.F. Hutton, she orchestrated an audacious string of acquisitions (including Jell-O, Maxwell House, Birdseye frozen foods, and Baker's Chocolate), renaming the company General Foods in 1929.

What philanthropic and cultural landmarks did the Post family establish?

Marjorie Merriweather Post built Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, and Hillwood Estate in Washington, D.C. (now a premier decorative arts museum), donating millions to social welfare programs and cultural institutions across the United States.

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Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.