Watsonville, Calif.-based Driscoll’s appointed Giannella Alvarez, former CEO and director of the board at Beanitos LLC, and Graciela Monteagudo, former president and CEO of LALA U.S., to the berry company’s board of directors.
Alvarez has 35 years of experience across a wide range of industries in the U.S., Latin America and Europe, having led multibillion-dollar brands for Fortune 100 companies, including Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola in senior executive positions, according to a news release.
She was group president and CEO for Barilla Americas, a division of Barilla S.p.A., as well as president and CEO of organic food startups including Harmless Harvest Inc.
Named one of 2019’s Most Influential Corporate Board Directors by Women Inc., Alvarez is also an experienced public company board director. She brings a deep expertise in marketing, innovation, business scaling and global expansion as well as a passion for food, health and wellness, sustainability and equality, with her experience as an advisory board member of New York University’s Stern School Center for Sustainable Business.
“Giannella is a highly creative and decisive leader who has a proven track record of talent building and energizing organizations across countries, customers and channels,” Driscoll’s chairman and CEO J. Miles Reiter said in the release. “Her significant on-the-ground international experiences will serve as an invaluable asset as Driscoll’s continues to grow and adapt to the ever-changing marketplace.”
Monteagudo built her 30-year executive career at multinational Fortune 500 companies across the consumer products, healthcare and retail industries.
She has significant experience in general management roles, previously leading multibillion-dollar corporations including senior vice president and business unit head for Sam’s Club in Mexico, and president, Americas and global marketing for Mead Johnson Nutrition Americas. Most recently, Monteagudo was CEO and president of LALA U.S., a Hispanic dairy company owned by Grupo LALA.
Monteagudo is an experienced public company board director who has also been spotlighted in the 2019 Latino Leaders Magazine “Latinos on Board” report and the “2020 Best of the Boardroom” feature of Hispanic Executive Magazine.
She has a diverse perspective on domestic and international markets, digital marketing, e-commerce, Hispanic and Latin American consumers, as well as a demonstrated capability in strategic planning, diversity, inclusion and cultural transformation.
“Graciela’s expertise in addressing the Mexican consumer and retail environment will be invaluable to Driscoll’s as we navigate increasing consumer demand in this important growth market,” Reiter said in the release. “Her experience in consumer brands, especially in the health and nutrition sector, will bolster Driscoll’s capability and success in markets around the globe.”
Driscoll’s used RSR Partners, an executive, board and leadership recruiting firm, to identify the talented independent directors, who were each recognized as 2019’s Most Influential Corporate Directors by Women Inc. Magazine.
