PARIS — The Global Food Safety Initiative, managed by The Consumer Goods Forum here, said Wednesday it has appointed Frank Yiannas, vice president, food safety and health, Wal-Mart Stores, as vice-chair-elect of GFSI effective next February.
He will succeed Yves Rey, corporate quality general manager for Danone here, who has been appointed chairman-elect, as previsouly announced, to succeed Jurgen Matern as chairman of the initiative. Matern is vice president, strategic quality management, for Metro AG, Dusseldorf, Germany.
The Global Food Safety Initiative was set up in 2000 to pursue continuous improvement in food safety management systems, cost efficiency in the supply chain and safe food for consumers worldwide.
Matern said he was pleased “that Frank has agreed to step up to this challenge and commit to strengthening the position of GFSI around the world. Frank has already demonstrated great leadership by chairing the Global Food Safety Conference committee over the last 12 months, and through his tenure as vice chair, we will continue to advance food safety worldwide.”
At Wal-Mart, Yiannas oversees food safety and other public health functions. Prior to joining Wal-Mart in 2008, he spent 19 years as director of safety and health for the Walt Disney World Company.
