Sysco Announces Executive Leadership Changes

Rhea-AI Summary

Sysco Corporation (NYSE: SYY) announced Judith Sansone as the new executive vice president and chief commercial officer, starting Oct. 26, 2020. In this newly created role, Sansone will drive Sysco's commercial strategies, focusing on merchandising, marketing, pricing, and digital sales. She aims to enhance customer engagement and optimize sales growth. Previously, Sansone held a significant position at CVS Health, overseeing a $20 billion business. The company also stated that Michael Foster will resign as executive vice president and chief information officer effective Dec. 31, 2020.

Positive

• Judith Sansone brings over 30 years of retail experience, likely enhancing Sysco's growth strategies.
• Sansone's focus on personalized customer engagement is expected to drive sales growth.

Negative

• Michael Foster's departure could lead to potential disruptions in ongoing technology initiatives.
• Transitioning leadership roles may create temporary instability in strategic execution.

HOUSTON, Oct. 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sysco Corporation (NYSE: SYY), the leading global foodservice distribution company, announced today that Judith Sansone will join the company as executive vice president and chief commercial officer, effective Oct. 26, 2020.

In this newly created executive role, Sansone will lead Sysco’s overall commercial strategies, including responsibility for merchandising, marketing, pricing, digital sales enablement, customer loyalty program development, customer personalization and exploring new channel sales development. Sansone will coordinate company-wide efforts to profitably grow sales by better serving customers with best-in-class merchandising, marketing and personalized engagement. She will also work collaboratively with Sysco’s field-based sales organization to acquire new business and increase sales with existing customers through these strategic efforts.

“I am very pleased to welcome Judy to Sysco. She is an experienced and highly talented leader who consistently delivers results and drives transformative change,” said Kevin Hourican, Sysco’s president and chief executive officer. “Under Judy’s leadership, I am confident that we will accelerate our profitable sales growth by building a best-in-industry merchandising, marketing and digital customer engagement strategy. We will leverage our robust customer purchasing data to provide personalized assortments, pricing and promotional marketing to our customers. Increasing personalization of our go-to-market strategy will enable Sysco to profitably grow our sales and better serve our customers.”

Sansone has over 30 years of experience in the retail industry where she developed an innovation mindset and willingness to make bold decisions that will complement Sysco’s current efforts to transform its business, delight customers and increase market share. In her most recent role as chief merchandising officer with CVS Health, she was accountable for the growth strategy and P&L management of the $20 billion front-of-store business. Sansone directly managed merchandising, pricing, store design, website activities and the loyalty program. She designed the merchandising strategy to transform the retail store from a traditional convenience store to a health and beauty destination. Judy delivered industry-leading sales growth in health and beauty and profitably grew market share.

In addition, Sysco also announced today that Michael Foster will be stepping down from his position as executive vice president and chief information and technology officer, effective Dec. 31, 2020, to pursue other opportunities. Sysco is grateful for Foster’s leadership, integrity and service, including the implementation of prudent technology cost reductions, advancement of Sysco’s ecommerce platform (Shop) and a successful transition to a broad-based remote work environment. The company expects a smooth transition and to announce Foster’s replacement soon.

About Sysco
Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. With more than 57,000 associates, the company operates 326 distribution facilities worldwide and serves more than 625,000 customer locations. For fiscal 2020 that ended June 27, 2020, the company generated sales of more than $52 billion. Information about our CSR program, including Sysco’s 2019 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, can be found at www.sysco.com/csr2019report.

For more information, visit www.sysco.com or connect with Sysco on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SyscoCorporation or Twitter at https://twitter.com/Sysco. For important news and information regarding Sysco, visit the Investor Relations section of the company’s Internet home page at investors.sysco.com, which Sysco plans to use as a primary channel for publishing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information. Investors should also follow us at www.twitter.com/SyscoStock and download the Sysco IR App, available on the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Market. In addition, investors should continue to review our news releases and filings with the SEC. It is possible that the information we disclose through any of these channels of distribution could be deemed to be material information. 

For more information contact:

Shannon Mutschler
Media Contact
Mutschler.Shannon@corp.sysco.com
T 281-584-4059

FAQ

Who is Judith Sansone and what is her role at Sysco?

Judith Sansone is the newly appointed executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Sysco, effective Oct. 26, 2020.

What is Judith Sansone's experience before joining Sysco?

Before joining Sysco, Judith Sansone was the chief merchandising officer at CVS Health, managing a $20 billion business.

What changes is Sysco making in its leadership?

Sysco is appointing Judith Sansone as chief commercial officer and Michael Foster will step down as chief information officer on Dec. 31, 2020.

What impact could Judith Sansone's appointment have on Sysco's sales growth?

Judith Sansone's experience in retail and focus on personalized engagement is expected to accelerate Sysco's profitable sales growth.

Why is Michael Foster leaving Sysco?

Michael Foster is stepping down to pursue other opportunities, effective Dec. 31, 2020.