A globally minded consultant with no previous food industry experience is the new head of the James Beard Foundation.
Clare Reichenbach, founder of CJJR Consulting, succeeds Susan Ungaro, who retired at the end of 2017 after serving as the group’s president for 11 years. Reichenbach previously worked as executive vice president of strategy and development at BBC Worldwide and AMC Networks.
Reichenbach becomes the JBF’s chief executive, a title the board believed to be more appropriate for the organization. There will no longer be a president.
Founded in 1986, the nonprofit JBF administers the James Beard Awards, as well as scholarships for culinary students, publications, advocacy and training. The foundation maintains the James Beard House in New York City, which hosts regular culinary events with visiting chefs.
“I don’t purport to be anything more than a deeply impassioned home cook,” Reichenbach says on the JBF’s website. “Throughout my career I have operated at the fulcrum of ‘commercial’ and ‘mission,’ most notably at the BBC. The reconciliation of doing good business for good causes really matters to me, and the values espoused by the Foundation resonate well with my personal values.”
With multiple sexual harassment scandals rocking the food world, Reichenbach says the JBF will continue its leadership programs for women and will consult with industry leaders on “how we can best support the change needed.”
Reichenbach officially takes over the post on Feb. 20.
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