The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) welcomes five new members to the Board of Directors. These new members will work alongside current members of the Board in overseeing GFN’s strategy in alleviating hunger through the support and creation of food banks.
“We are pleased to welcome these five new members to the Board of Directors,” said Alan Gilbertson, Chairman of the GFN Board. “With their diverse backgrounds and unique skills, we are excited to see the roles they play in leading GFN to help food banks reach more people.”
Joseph Gitler, Founder and Chairman, Leket Israel
In 2003, Joseph Gitler founded Leket Israel, The National Food Bank (formerly Table to Table) as a one-man volunteer operation to respond to the paradox of growing hunger and poverty in Israel on the one hand and significant food waste on the other. Today, Joseph’s operation has grown to become the only food rescue and resource organization in Israel. Leket Israel supplies surplus food and nutritional support to over 200 non-profit organizations serving more than 175,000 people in Israel weekly.
As Founder and Chairman, Joseph has worked to expand the scope of Leket Israel’s capabilities. Today, Leket thrives with the assistance of 100 employees, 12 delivery vehicles and tens of thousands of volunteers – a direct result of Joseph’s dedication.
Outside of his work with Leket Israel, Joseph is a founding member of Ten Gav and Israel Gives, as well as an active board member of re-specs, The Meir Medical Center, Camp Moshava Canada, and Artists & Musicians for Israel. Joseph received the coveted Presidential Award for Volunteerism from former President Shimon Peres, was named the 2018 Man of the Year by the Ra’anana Rotary, accepted the Ruppin Academic Center’s 2017 Honorary Fellowship, was awarded Beit Hapalmach’s 2016 Yigal Alon Prize and was selected to deliver a 2015 ELI talk. He is a recipient of the Inaugural 2014 Bonei Prize and named one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world.
Joseph received his juris doctor degree from Fordham University. He also has a bachelor’s degree from Yeshiva University. He resides in Ra’anana, Israel with his wife and their five children. Joseph began his term in June 2018.
Sachin Gupta, Head of Global Portfolio Management Desk, PIMCO
Sachin Gupta is a managing director at the PIMCO Newport Beach office, global portfolio manager and head of the global desk. He is a member of the Asia-Pacific Portfolio Committee and has also served as a member of the European Portfolio Committee and a rotating member of the Investment Committee.
Previously, Sachin served in PIMCO’s London office managing European Liability Driven Investment (LDI) portfolios. Before that, he was part of PIMCO’s global portfolio management team in Singapore. In these roles, Sachin focused on investments in government bonds, foreign exchange and interest rate derivatives across global markets.
Prior to joining PIMCO in 2003, he was in the fixed income and currency derivatives group at ABN AMRO Bank. He has 21 years of investment experience and holds an MBA from XLRI, India and an undergraduate degree from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. Sachin began his term on the GFN Board in July 2018.
Paul Henrys, Chief Financial Officer, Feeding America
As Chief Financial Officer, Paul Henrys oversees Feeding America finance and corporate strategy. In his role, Henrys helps maximize Feeding America resources to get more food to more people in need and maintain its position as a leader in financial transparency and efficiency. He also serves as Treasurer of the Feeding America Board of Directors.
Prior to joining Feeding America in 2013, Paul spent 8 years in finance at U.S. Foods – a leading foodservice distributor. His most recent role at U.S. Foods was Senior Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis. Paul also has five years of experience in the supply chain technology industry, where he held several leadership positions in marketing and consulting. He successfully managed several consulting projects and developed corporate and product messaging to drive brand identity and broad market awareness.
Paul began his career in strategy consulting, with a firm now known as Oliver Wyman. There, he managed project teams to identify and successfully implement supply chain and strategic business opportunities.
Paul has a B.A. from Harvard University. He lives in Chicago with his wife and two children. Paul begins his term on the GFN Board in January 2019.
Bill Rudnick, Partner, DLA Piper
Bill Rudnick is a partner with the global law firm DLA Piper, where he counsels and represents entrepreneurial clients, advising on legal and business issues, including capital structure and deal structure, capital formation, recapitalization and workout, transaction strategy, growth strategy, corporate governance, litigation strategy, and strategic planning, and technology. He serves clients across various sectors, including Real Estate, Financial Services, Entertainment and Media, Technology, Construction, Energy and Clean Tech, and Healthcare.
Bill is internationally recognized for his leadership roles in hunger relief. He is a co-founder and former chairman of the board of GFN. Bill now returns to the GFN board after a two-year hiatus. Prior to co-founding GFN, Bill served on the boards of Feeding America (formerly known as America’s Second Harvest) and the Greater Chicago Food Depository, chairing both boards.
Bill received his bachelor’s degree from Tufts University, a JD from Northwestern University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
Bill lives in Chicago with his wife and have five children. Bill begins his term on the GFN Board in January 2019.
Jacques Vandenschrik, President, European Food Banks Federation
Jacques Vandenschrik was elected as president of the European Food Banks Federation (FEBA) in May 2018, playing an important role in the organization’s profound transformation.
Jacques has a master’s degree in Hospital Sciences from the Université Libre de Bruxelles, he started his career in Somalia working for the European Development Fund where he was detached to the General Hospital of Mogadishu. On his return to Belgium, he assumed a hospital manager position at a local University Clinic for six years and then accepted to lead the Human Resources department of a large industrial group in South Africa, preparing the organization for the political changes of the early 90’s. Then he founded his own business specialized in the development of antiseptics.
In 2007, Jacques returned to Belgium and became acquainted with the local food banks. He quickly took the helm of the food bank in Tournai and was also requested to assume the vice-presidency of the Belgian Food Bank Federation. He took a decisive part in the development of an IT platform to streamline food banks activities. In 2015, he was selected as member of the Board of Directors of FEBA and was requested to assume its presidency in October 2016. Jacques began his term on the GFN Board in October 2018.
Click here for full list of GFN Board of Directors.
