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Speakers at the Johnson School
The Durland Memorial Lecture
The Durland Lecture is the Johnson School's most prestigious business-speaking event. Each year, the dean of the school invites a distinguished business leader to the campus to meet with students and faculty members and to deliver a major address.
CEO and chairman, Kraft Foods, Inc.
October 18, 2007
On October 18, 2007, the Johnson School welcomed Irene B. Rosenfeld '75, MS '77, PhD '80, chief executive officer and chairman of Kraft Foods, Inc., the world's second-largest food company. Rosenfeld delivered the Durland Memorial Lecture. Rosenfeld, 53, was appointed chairman of Kraft Foods in March, 2007. She was named chief executive officer of Kraft Foods in June, 2006. Prior to that, she had been chairman and chief executive officer of Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo. Previously, she had been president, Kraft Foods North America.
Rosenfeld is a food industry veteran. She began her career with General Foods in 1981 as associate market research manager. She spent more than 20 years with Kraft. During that time, she advanced in a variety of leadership roles, spanning numerous Kraft businesses in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Early in her career, she served as associate product manager on Country Time Lemonade. From there, she moved through successively more responsible positions, driving innovation. In 1991, she was named executive vice president and general manager of the Beverages Division. Three years later, Rosenfeld was named executive vice president and general manager of the Desserts and Snacks Division.
In 1996, she became president of Kraft Canada, that nation's largest packaged food company. In 2000, in addition to her responsibilities in Canada, she was named group vice president, Kraft Foods, and president of operations, technology and procurement. In February 2001, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Information Systems were added to her responsibilities.
Among her many accomplishments at Kraft, she led the highly successfully integration of the $19-billion Nabisco acquisition. In addition, Rosenfeld has led the restructuring and turnaround of a number of key businesses. Rosenfeld also served on the senior team that led Kraft's Initial Public Offering in 2001.
Irene was elected to the YWCA Academy of Women Achievers. She is past chair of the Industry Affairs Council for Grocery Manufacturers of America and past chair of the board of directors of the Food and Consumer Products Manufacturers of Canada.
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