Lake Forest, Illinois
Jim Nolan is an experienced food industry executive who has broad leadership experience with both large multinational food companies, like Proctor and Gamble, PepsiCo, Sara Lee Corp and Grupo Bimbo, and mid-cap, private equity-backed food companies, like Yo Crunch Yogurt, L Catterton and Frontenac, in multiple categories of the food industry. He is currently a chairman and first partner with Frontenac Private Equity in Chicago. He spent 40 years leading food companies as CEO, division president or functional leader in the beverage, bakery, protein and dairy industries.
He is also vice-chair of the board of trustees of his alma mater, Ithaca College in Upstate New York, where he chairs the governance, compensation and assessment committee and previously chaired the residential search committee.
Nolan has spent a career leading or assisting teams to win in multiple environments, from the competitive food industry to the halls of higher education, ensuring that effective strategy, effective leadership and effective execution result in expected performance. He is a student of consumer behavior as it relates to his industries of interest and a strong advocate of intentional planning.
Nolan and his wife of 44 years, Kathleen, grew up in Upstate New York. They have four grown children and 12 grandchildren. They are avid travelers, fitness-focused and ready for all new adventures.