The Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF), the food industry’s thought leader on gender equity, has announced that six senior executives have joined its board to help accelerate women’s progress in the sector.
The new additions to the WFF board include Merary Simeon, VP, Diversity & Engagement of PepsiCo North America; Jean Chick, Principal at Deloitte Consulting LLP; Alisa Gmelich, VP, Marketing for IHOP Restaurant; Heather Neary, President of Auntie Anne’s; Libby Wanamaker, VP, Talent Experience for Chick-fil-A; and Colleen Wolf, SVP & Chief Information Officer at Ventura Foods.
It also announced that WFF Board Executive Committee Member Tracy Skeans, who is Chief Transformation and People Officer of Yum! Brands Inc, has been appointed to Treasurer. She will succeed to Chair-Elect and Chair over the next three years.
DRIVING GENDER EQUITY
Thanks to the new appointments, WFF’s impact on driving gender equity in the food industry will increase substantially over the next year, according to Salli Setta, WFF Board Chair, and President and Chief Concept Officer for Red Lobster.
“With the leadership of WFF’s new President and CEO, Therese Gearhart [appointed in November 2019], and a strong and committed Board of Directors, WFF is focused on achieving gender-equity in the food industry through strategic initiatives designed to accelerate the advancement of female leaders,” said Setta.
Commenting on the new board appointments, WFF President and CEO Therese Gearhart, stated: “WFF will continue to accelerate women’s advancement across the food industry by creating inclusive work environments where women thrive and gender-diverse organisations reap the reward of sustained business growth. We continue to accelerate learnings and adoption of best practices to help partner companies drive gender equity, and provide unmatched leadership development, role modelling and networking opportunities for their team members and next generation of leaders.”
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