Noodles & Co., Papa Murphy’s name new CEO, and more
ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:
IRI, Chicago Nishat Mehta was named president of the IRI Media Center of Excellence, effective June 19. Mehta will work closely with IRI’s CPG, retail and media clients to transform their use of media and promotions to deliver growth, increased return on advertising spending and improved consumer engagement. Mehta most recently led the customer communications team at 84.51º, where he helped The Kroger Co. and its CPG brand partners create relevant and personalized communications with consumers. Before leading this team, he served as 84.51º’s head of brand media, leveraging the power of data and other retail assets to improve CPG advertising. Prior to his roles at 84.51º, Mehta was responsible for developing strategic partnerships at dunnhumby Ltd., where he led the elevation of the company’s digital media measurement and targeting business, transforming the way CPG brands bought, sold and measured their media.
Food Marketing Institute (FMI), Arlington, Va. Stephanie Barnes was promoted to chief regulatory officer and legal counsel, to include legal oversight of FMI’s bylaws and antitrust guidelines. After over three years as the industry’s regulatory point person, Barnes has helped member companies craft compliance strategies on a broad range of regulations, including the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). She has also compiled dozens of regulatory comments, represented the industry on a number of food law panels and hosted informational webinars. Since 2009, LeAnn Chuboff has dedicated her career to the division of FMI responsible for developing, maintaining and promoting the Safe Quality Food Institute’s (SQFI) code. She was promoted to vice president, SQFI technical affairs, tasked with directing all technical aspects of the SQFI program, including the food safety standards, guidelines, training materials and audit and certification protocols. Sarah Malenich was promoted to director, Safe Quality Food Institute sales and marketing, a role focused on promoting and elevating all SQFI programs, which include the SQF food safety and quality certification program as well as the SQFI Ethical Sourcing Certification. Malenich is responsible for leading and directing the development and implementation of SQFI’s strategic sales, marketing and business development plans and initiatives. Her duties also include managing communications, websites and marketing materials to stakeholders, including suppliers, certifying bodies and training centers, to help implement increased SQF recognition and site and training registrations. Dr. Hilary Thesmar was promoted to chief food and product safety officer and senior vice president, food safety programs, responsible for supervising food safety programs, initiatives, activities and resources for FMI and its members. She represents FMI to a wide audience of stakeholders and professionals, including various governmental, Congressional, scientific, consumer and industry audiences on issues related to food safety and government regulatory compliance. Under Thesmar’s direction, the FMI food safety team also updated and created several critical resources, including a Food Allergen Resource Document, a Listeria Action Plan for Retailers and a sample FSMA Distribution Center Food Safety Plan to assist with FSMA compliance.
USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC), Stone Mountain, Ga.
Marc Killebrew, vice president of international sales at Tyson Foods, was elected chairman of the board for 2017-18, succeeding outgoing chairman Steve Monroe, manager of export sales at Sanderson Farms. As chairman, Killebrew will head the 30-member board of directors, which sets policy and gives direction to USAPEEC. Elected to the executive committee were Butch Johnson, director of Globex International USA, as first vice chairman; and Ryan Downes, sales manager at Farbest Foods, as second vice chairman. Joel Coleman, vice president and general manager of international and industrial commodity sales at Butterball, was re-elected secretary-treasurer. Rounding out the executive committee are Mark Barrett, vice president of Lamex Foods, as new at-large member; Chaz Wilson, chief operating officer of Grove Services, as new at-large member; Scott Chapman, vice president of industry relations at Lineage Logistics, as associate member-at-large; and Gary Berg, District 13 director at the Illinois Soybean Association, as commodity member at large. Thierry Murad, global product manager-poultry at AJC International, was named chairman of the marketing committee. New board members elected are Ashley Bahceci, director at Hakan Foods; Kenny Raney, vice president of commodity sales and logistics for Simmons Prepared Foods; Paul Sauder, president and CEO of Sauder Farms; Jen Ehresmann, senior vice president of commodities and supply chain for Jennie-O Turkey Store; Jeff Jorgenson, president of Iowa Soybean Association; Jim Bauman, director of market analysis of National Corn Growers Association; Keith Truckor, chairman of Ohio Corn Marketing Council; and Bob Metz, director at the United Soybean Board. Board members elected to 3-year terms ending in 2020 are Bahceci, Chapman, Johnson, Murad, Raney, Wilson, Oleg Kovalev, director of export sales at Mountaire Farms; Sujith Niyangoda, managing director at e&e Global; Jay Simpson, director of global commodity and trading exports at Perdue Foods; and Greg Tench, sales manager at Mar-Jac Poultry. Board members elected to terms ending in 2019 are Barrett, Downes, Sauder, Mike Briggs, partner at Vilas & Co.; Bill Duggan, vice president at Maersk Line; Daniel Fripp, manager of commodity and international sales for Foster Farms; Tyson Hall, president and CEO at Pilgrim’s; Thomas Isaf, vice president of Interra International; Kent Puffenbarger, sales manager at Prestage Foods; and Bobby Wilburn, director of sales and marketing for Peco Foods. Board members elected to terms ending in 2018 are Coleman; Ehresmann; Killebrew; Monroe; Mark Blanchard, president and CEO of New Orleans Cold Storage; Greg Hinton, vice president at Rose Acre Farms; John Patchoski, sales coordinator at Koch Foods; Martin Piffaretti, vice president of export sales for Eastern Quality Foods; Saher Rizk, chief executive officer of Mirasco; and Jim Wayt, managing director at Intervision Foods, LLC.