Cini-Little International, Inc.’s board of directors today announced the appointment of Kathleen Held CPSM to the position of CEO, effective May 1, 2020.
Held began her career in the marketing department at Cini-Little in 1993. Over the years she has grown to be a key member of the leadership team and has led the business development and marketing efforts for the firm’s worldwide offices, most recently as chief marketing officer.
“I am excited that the board has embraced my ‘marketing-led’ approach and am both humbled and honored to have the opportunity to lead the firm into the next phase,” said Held.
Strong leadership
“Kathleen’s passion for the industry, commitment to our clients, and ability to motivate people towards a goal has strengthened Cini-Little’s position in the global marketplace,” said Bill Eaton, chairman of the board.
“She has revitalized our global brand, rejuvenated our corporate culture and given us a clear vision for the future. With her strong leadership experience and strategic thinking, Kathleen is the ideal candidate to assume the role of CEO,” added Eaton.
Current CEO Richard Eisenbarth will continue with the firm as president and COO until he retires this fall. He will remain on the board of directors for the firm upon retirement. This shift will allow him to focus on mentoring the company’s staff, developing strategic relationships and strengthening relationships with key clients.
“This is the perfect time for Kathleen to move into the CEO role. She is a champion of the firm and has an innate connection with our team and our clients. I have been working closely with Kathleen for a number of years, as she transitions into her new role, and I can unequivocally say she goes the distance on everything she does. I am in full support of her moving into my position as I near retirement,” said Eisenbarth.
“With Kathleen at the helm, I believe we will continue to fine tune Cini-Little’s solid approach to consulting while staying flexible in a world that rapidly changes,” suggested Orlando Espinosa, vice president.
“If the past few months have taught us anything, it’s that things can dramatically change when you least expect it. Being able to steer quickly around that iceberg is always an asset.”
About Cini-Little International
Cini-Little is an international foodservice, laundry and waste management consulting firm providing comprehensive and fully integrated services to a multitude of clients.
For over 50 years, the company has serviced customers in the corporate, healthcare, higher ed, hospitality & leisure, retail & entertainment, and sport & public assembly markets. With a team of nearly 50 professionals, our ability to formulate new and innovative solutions is in high demand.
Cini-Little is headquartered in Germantown, MD, with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, Toronto and affiliated locations in Sydney and Tokyo.
For more information, visit www.cinilittle.com.
