Sara Lee Foodservice, a leading supplier of coffee, tea, meat, and bakery solutions, hired Charlie McConnell as its new director of customer marketing, broadline.

McConnell brings 17 years of foodservice experience to Sara Lee, most recently as the customer marketing manager at Unilever Foodsolutions where he was responsible for a variety of marketing and communications initiatives for the company’s regional foodservice chain customers. McConnell has a strong background in consumer and operator insights which includes leading in-depth studies to understand consumer attitudes and usage patterns, conducting consumer and operator concept testing and incorporating syndicated retail data into foodservice analysis of consumer behavior.In his new role with Sara Lee Foodservice, McConnell will be responsible for defining and executing broadline segment strategies.

“Charlie has managed numerous projects ranging from consumer insights and innovation launches to promotions and merchandizing,” says Kristin Bird, vice president, marketing, Sara Lee Foodservice. “His diverse industry experience with consumers and foodservice operators makes him a perfect fit for our broadline channel. His acquisition will allow Sara Lee Foodservice to enhance our partnerships with operators and create new opportunities to feed their bottom lines.”