Melinda R. Rich who has served as Vice Chairman, Executive Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors for food corporation Rich Products, has been appointed Chairman of the family-owned corporate parent Rich Holdings.
Ms Rich joined Rich’s in 1985 and worked various roles in the leadership team including Executive Vice President of innovation. In that position she established best practices and processes and identified new business opportunities and technologies. She also chairs the board’s Finance and Audit and Compensation and Organization committees.
“This decision was made after years of very deliberate and careful planning,” said Ms Rich. “Intentional succession planning is a crucial part of fostering a robust leadership pipeline – especially in a family-led company like ours … We hold ourselves accountable to the same expectations as stewards of Rich Products and our family of businesses.”
During the course of her career Ms Rich served as Executive Vice Chair of Rich Entertainment Group, and was responsible for overseeing the organisation’s baseball, theatre, restaurant and travel interests. She is a member of the corporate Board of Directors and the Compensation and Human Capital Committee for M&T Bank Corp.
“Serving this company as chairman is one of the great honours of my life,” she added. “I’ve had the privilege of being an integral part of Rich’s for nearly four decades and deeply admire and respect what we have built over the past 77 years.”
Ms Rich graduated from University of Colorado in 1979 with a BA in Psychology and Business. She received an Honourary Doctorate of Humane Letters Degree from The Culinary Institute of America in 2011 and an Honourary Doctorate of Laws from D’Youville College in 2007.
She has received numerous awards and honours for her work including the Women’s Foodservice Forum Titan Award (2019) which recognises those who are committed to creating opportunities for women in their industries, the Distinguished Fellow Award (2015) from Cleveland Clinic’s 1921 Society and the Women’s Foodservice Forum Trailblazer Award (2010).
“Mindy’s steadfast support and commitment to remaining a private, family-owned business that’s successful over the long-term cannot be understated,” commented Richard Ferranti, President of Rich’s. “Her leadership as chairman is key as we continue to transform our company.”
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