Sara Lee Brings on New Director of Customer Marketing

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. -- Sara Lee Foodservice has boosted its employee ranks with the hiring of Charlie McConnell as its new director of customer marketing, broadline. In his new role, McConnell will be responsible for defining and executing broadline segment strategies.

McConnell’s resume includes 17 years of foodservice experience, most recently as the customer marketing manager at Unilever Foodsolutions. In that position, he was responsible for a variety of marketing and communications initiatives for the company’s regional foodservice chain customers, according to a Sara Lee release. He also has a strong background in consumer and operator insights which includes leading in-depth studies to understand consumer attitudes and usage patterns, conducting consumer and operator concept testing, and incorporating syndicated retail data into foodservice analysis of consumer behavior.

"Charlie has managed numerous projects ranging from consumer insights and innovation launches to promotions and merchandizing," said Kristin Bird, vice president of marketing at Sara Lee Foodservice. "His diverse industry experience with consumers and foodservice operators makes him a perfect fit for our broadline channel. His acquisition will allow Sara Lee Foodservice to enhance our partnerships with operators and create new opportunities to feed their bottom line."