Paula Fitzgerald Appointed CFO of Sabra Dipping Company
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.– Sabra Dipping Company (www.sabra.com), maker of the country’s best-selling hummus, has appointed Paula Fitzgerald as Chief Financial Officer. Fitzgerald is a global financial leader with Fortune 50 experience spanning five continents. She will oversee financial operations as Sabra drives growth to meet compelling consumer interest in hummus and wholesome plant based dips and spreads.
“As we bolster the brand for sustained growth in a category poised for further expansion, Paula’s expertise will help strengthen Sabra’s leadership position,” said Shali Shalit-Shoval, Sabra CEO. “Recognized for proven success in sales and marketing finance, business development and customer supply chain, Paula is known for her ability to strategically steer businesses through periods of transformation. She shares Sabra’s core values, and I am thrilled to welcome her to the executive team.”
Fitzgerald joins Sabra with nearly ten years of experience at PepsiCo, which jointly owns Sabra with The Strauss Group. At PepsiCo, she held key financial leadership roles including most recently Senior Director, Walmart Sales Finance for PepsiCo North America Beverages. Earlier, as Senior Director, Brand & Innovation Finance, she provided brand finance and innovation support for the company’s US beverage portfolio of brands across both retail and foodservice channels. Prior to working at PepsiCo, she served as Finance Director for Pfizer’s Consumer Healthcare Strategy and Business Development team.
“The Sabra brand has fantastic growth potential,” said Fitzgerald. “Best-in-class products, an inspired consumer base, a diverse and remarkable team and a commitment to creating fresh connections within the community are among the hallmarks of Sabra’s success. I am enthusiastic to join the brand that introduced hummus to the American consumer and has continued to lead through innovation, consumer engagement and exceptional commitment to product quality.”
Best known for its hummus, Sabra currently holds approximately 60% of the category in the US. Sabra recently launched “Plants with a Purpose,” a community engagement initiative to promote better nutrition by helping alleviate the impact of Food Deserts in the US.
“It is fitting to welcome Paula on International Women’s Day as we celebrate the outstanding female executives on our leadership team,” continued Shalit-Shoval. “Throughout the day, we will be highlighting the unique contributions of the women on our executive committee and throughout the organization. We’re thrilled to have Paula onboard.”
Fitzgerald earned a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Houston. She completed the Strategic Alliances Executive Education Program from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. Fitzgerald will be based out of Sabra’s NY headquarters. Fitzgerald will serve as CFO for Sabra and for Obela, an international venture between PepsiCo and Strauss Group. She replaces Sabra’s former CFO Chris Hall, who announced his retirement earlier this month.
Sabra Dipping Company Executive Committee
- Shali Shalit-Shoval – Chief Executive Officer
- Paula Fitzgerald – Chief Financial Officer
- Eugenio Perrier – Chief Marketing Officer
- John Boes – Executive Vice President, Sales
- Tulin Tuzel – Chief Technology Officer
- Frank Armetta – Global Supply Chain VP
- Meiky Tollman – Global Growth and Capabilities VP
- Stacey Zeltner – VP of Human Resources
About Sabra Dipping Company, LLC
Sabra Dipping Company, LLC is the leader in the refrigerated dips and spreads category and producer of America’s top-selling hummus. Sabra’s award-winning products offer consumers fresh new ways of eating and connecting and include more than a dozen flavors of hummus and a wide range of refrigerated dips and spreads including salsa, guacamole and Greek yogurt dip. Sabra’s range of offerings includes items that are non-GMO, vegetarian, gluten-free, kosher and vegan and can be found nationwide in club stores, supermarkets, specialty retailers and through food service. Sabra operates a gold LEED certified factory in Virginia. Find Sabra at www.sabra.com, www.facebook.com/sabra and @Sabra on Twitter and Instagram.
Sabra Dipping Company was formed as a U.S./Canadian joint venture between Strauss Group and PepsiCo. The Sabra joint venture draws on both Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo, and Strauss Group’s expertise to continue building this growing business.
