Leslie G. Sarasin has resigned as president and CEO of the American Frozen Food Institute, McLean, Va. to become president and CEO of the Food Marketing Institute, Arlington, Va. Her resignation is effective "as soon as an orderly transition in leadership can be accomplished, likely on or before October 31," according to a memo to the AFFI board of directors from James Matthews, chairman.
"This presents a tremendous opportunity for Leslie and, on behalf of the entire Board of Directors and the membership, I have expressed to her our congratulations on this appointment, as well as our thanks for the contributions she has made to AFFI during her 19 years in the organization, particularly during her tenure as its President for the past nine years," Matthews said.
The memo goes on to say that "In a conference call meeting on Wednesday, October 1, 2008, the Executive Committee voted unanimously to name AFFI’s current Senior Vice President of Public Policy Robert L. Garfield as AFFI’s interim president, pending a search for a permanent replacement for the position. In addition, I have established a Candidate Evaluation Council to begin work on the search for AFFI’s next President and CEO. Joining me on that Council will be AFFI’s officers, which include Julia Wells of the Pictsweet Company, Ray Walker of Patterson Vegetable Company and Ed Flanagan of Jasper Wyman Co., as well as a representative from AFFI’s Past Chairmen Advisory Committee. Gary Kushner, AFFI’s general counsel, will serve as counsel to the search process. It is our intention to engage the services of an executive recruitment firm to assist us in the process, during which we likely will consider external candidates, as well as any internal candidates who may express an interest in the position. While perhaps an aggressive schedule, it is our hope to have the new CEO identified by December 1, 2008."
