Pacific International Fills Senior Marketing and Communications Role for the American Bakers Association
January 7, 2025 – London-headquartered executive search firm Pacific International has recently assisted in the recruitment of Anne Fairfield-Sonn as director of marketing and communications for the American Bakers Association (ABA). This strategic hire will strengthen ABA’s ability to deliver results for the industry under its new strategic plan.
“Working with Pacific International was an absolute pleasure,” said Eric Dell, president and CEO of ABA. “I’ve had the opportunity to partner with many retained search firms over the years and was thoroughly impressed with Pacific’s level of professionalism, expertise, and responsiveness. They took the time to truly understand our needs and delivered an exceptional candidate who not only possesses the right skills but also aligns perfectly with our organization’s culture and values. The entire process was seamless, and the caliber of the talent they presented exceeded our expectations. We’re thrilled with our new team member, and I recommend Pacific for any organization seeking top-tier talent.”
“We are thrilled to have supported ABA in recruiting Anne Fairfield-Sonn,” said Adam Nuzie, chief commercial officer and managing director, Americas at Pacific International. “Her expertise combined with her leadership experience and commercial acumen made her the perfect fit for this role. Anne Fairfield-Sonn is well-positioned to deliver on ABA’s vision, and we are confident she will make a significant impact. We look forward to our continued partnership in bringing high-impact leaders to ABA.”
Ms. Fairfield-Sonn brings to ABA a wealth of experience as a marketing and communications leader with a track record across industries such as agriculture, consulting, finance, learning and development, and technology. Her ability to lead multi-faceted digital marketing programs that enhance brand awareness, engagement, and revenue growth will be instrumental in positioning ABA to deliver high-value experiences for its members.
In her new role, Ms. Fairfield-Sonn will focus on crafting a differentiated brand positioning, establishing a strong and authentic brand voice, and developing compelling storytelling strategies to engage ABA’s diverse audiences. By leveraging her extensive expertise, she will help ABA champion the baking industry and deliver on its refreshed purpose, mission, and vision.
The American Bakers Association is the largest, most established, and diverse trade association for the commercial baking industry in the United States. Its community includes more than 350 member companies representing over 1,200 commercial baking facilities and an extensive industry supply chain. Since 1897, ABA has served as the voice of the baking industry, offering compelling advocacy, insightful thought leadership, and comprehensive research on industry trends.
Serving Clients Globally
Pacific International is a retained executive search firm that is dedicated to empowering Fortune 500, FTSE 100, and high-growth enterprises in building C-suite, senior-level, and strategic leadership teams. Since 1997, the firm has had a track record of successful C-suite and mid- to senior-level leadership project delivery across many key industries globally. With regional offices in Philadelphia, PA, and Dusseldorf, Germany, Pacific International also offers services beyond executive search such as diversity and inclusion strategies, leadership skills assessment, and succession planning.
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Pacific International’s practices include: Automotive & aerospace; banking, financial services and insurance; electronics and semiconductors; consumer goods; chemicals and process industry; industrial goods and engineering; pharmaceutical, biotechnology and life sciences; renewable energy and cleantech; professional services; technology, media and telecommunications; and transportation and logistics.
As the first hire for Pacific in the Americas, Mr. Nuzie has played a pivotal role in building the business. Under his leadership, the Philadelphia office has grown to a 20+ team becoming a partner to many global and fast-growing smaller organizations. Mr. Nuzie has matched talented leaders with high-growth-focused organizations including many Fortune 500 companies, contributing significantly to building high-impact leadership teams. His focus remains on cultivating lasting relationships with Pacific’s expanding portfolio of client organizations, mentoring, and developing the team into trusted executive search advisors, all while championing diversity and inclusion for every client engagement.
Recent Assignment
Pacific International also recently placed M. Vajuravel as the new regional director for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region at ATS Global, an independent solution provider for smart digital transformation. The search process, conducted by Pacific International, was meticulously tailored to identify a candidate with the deep industry knowledge and leadership skills necessary to drive ATS Global’s strategic objectives in the region. Mr. Vajuravel emerged as the ideal candidate, with his extensive experience in industrial automation and digital transformation. He has over 25 years of international enterprise sales, business development, project management, and senior commercial leadership experiences in the operational technology industry.
Mr. Vajuravel stated his gratitude for the role Pacific International played in securing his new position. “I want to express my sincere appreciation to the team at Pacific International for their outstanding support in securing my role at ATS Global,” he said. “They quickly understood how my skills aligned with the job, ensuring a smooth and focused process. Their communication was consistently prompt and transparent, and even after I joined, they followed up to ensure I was settling in well. I am delighted to have been guided by such a dedicated and professional team. Thank you, Pacific International, for making this transition a positive experience. I would gladly recommend them for senior leadership roles.”
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
