GMA, FMI chief execs join GS1 US board

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. The chief executives of the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Food Marketing Institute have joined the board of governors of GS1 US.

Pamela Bailey, president and chief executive officer of GMA and Leslie Sarasin, president and CEO of FMI were elected to the board of the supply-chain standards organization. They join other executives from such companies as Coca-Cola, CVS/pharmacy, Sam's Club and Procter & Gamble.

“Pam and Leslie represent two important business constituencies, and will be extremely valuable voices on the GS1 US Board of Governors,” said Bob Carpenter, CEO of the organization. “They bring a breadth of perspectives and experience that will help ensure GS1 US remains on the leading edge of thought and innovation in the supply chain, from production to the point of sale.”

Bailey joined GMA in January after serving as president and CEO of the Personal Care Products Council. She has also served as president and CEO of the Advanced Medical Technology Association, and was founding CEO and president of the Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC), an organization of more than 50 healthcare industry chief executives. In the 1970s and ’80s, Bailey served in the White House for three U.S. presidents. She is currently a director of Greatbatch Technologies, and of the MedCath Corporation and is vice chair of the Partnership for Food Safety Education.

Sarasin joined FMI in November 2008. Previously, she served as president and CEO of American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI). She also served as president of the National Yogurt Association, an association that AFFI managed, and had oversight responsibility for the National Frozen Pizza Institute, the Frozen Potato Products Institute, the International Frozen Food Association, the Texas-Mexico Frozen Food Council and the Food Processing Environmental Conference. She has also worked for the National Food Brokers Association, Crest International Corporation, Salomon Brothers Investment Bankers and Senator Wendell H. Ford.

Sarasin is a member of the Committee of 100 of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which is comprised of the top 100 association executives within the Chamber’s membership, and serves on the board of directors of the National Chamber Foundation. She serves on the board of directors of the Produce for Better Health Foundation and as a board member of the U.S. Former Members of Congress Auxiliary.