Career Change

It’s somewhat true. Callahan, president of global Walmart business for H.J. Heinz Co. the last 15 years, retired from the company Nov. 1.

That same day, he went to work as a senior adviser for Vestar Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity firm specializing in management buyouts, recapitalizations and growth equity investments.

Callahan, 60, tells us this is an age he has long been pointing toward to begin the next chapter of his business and personal life. He started the local S.C. Johnson Wax vendor office in the early 1990s to serve the Walmart and Sam’s Club account before leaving to head up Heinz’s worldwide business for Walmart.

His career in the consumer product business started 36 years ago.

 “The timing is perfect,” Callahan said of retirement, adding he and his wife have no plans to leave Northwest Arkansas, an area where he has been highly visible through various community and philanthropic roles.

“You’d be crazy to leave this place,” he said.

Callahan also now serves as a director on the Del Monte Corp. and Sun Products Corp. boards. Both are Vestar portfolio companies.