Oak Brook / IL. (thf) TreeHouse Foods Inc. announced that it has appointed Jean Spence, an accomplished innovator in the food industry with significant achievements in organizational design, cost optimization, and a recognized expert in food safety and regulation, as a new independent Director to the Board. The appointment is effective September 4, 2018, bringing the total number of Board members to 10, of which eight are independent.
Gary D. Smith, Chairman of the Board, said, «We are pleased to welcome Jean, as she will bring fresh insights and new perspectives, as well as demonstrated and relevant experience to the TreeHouse Foods Board. We are confident that her contributions will be valuable as the Company continues to transform its business through the TreeHouse 2020 restructuring program and to refine its strategy to deliver long-term shareholder value».
Spence, an independent consultant, was formerly Executive Vice President of Research, Development, + Quality at Mondelēz International Inc., a global leader in biscuits, chocolate, gum, candy and powdered beverages. Prior to the 2012 spin-off transaction to form Mondelēz, Spence served in the same capacity at parent company Kraft Foods Inc. where she was responsible for improving quality and food safety on a worldwide basis, coordinating global compliance programs, scientific relations, regulatory relations, microbiology, and auditing. She has represented the food industry on the Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council, and Kraft on the International Life Sciences Institute and Junior Achievement of Chicago Boards. Spence serves on the Supervisory Board of GEA Group AG and is Chair of the Clarkson University Board of Trustees. Spence earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University and a Master’s in Chemical Engineering from Manhattan College.
