The GFSI Board is pleased to announce that Neil Marshall, Global Director, Quality & Food Safety, The Coca-Cola Company has been appointed to the Board. Neil takes up the position vacated by D. V. Darshane who has recently taken up a new position within the Coca-Cola Company in Europe.

Neil’s responsibilities include defining global strategy, policy, programs, requirements and initiatives for quality and food safety to ensure product integrity, whilst reducing risks across the supply chain.

Neil joined the Coca-Cola system in June 1999 for Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd in the UK. Since then, he has held several Quality and Supply Chain technical lead roles within the UK and Europe before moving to a global position in Atlanta, USA in 2009.

Neil led a global Food Safety project team in 2007-08 to mitigate supply chain risks prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was the technical crisis management lead for the 2010 South Africa World Cup and for the 2012 London Olympics. Neil also led the development of a collaborative food and
packaging industry steering group responsible for the development of PAS 223: Prerequisite Programs and Design Requirements for Food Safety for Food Packaging which was published in July 2011. Neil is a longstanding member of the GFSI Technical Working Groups and is also the Vice President and Board member of SSAFE.

“I am honored to join the GFSI Board and work with this exceptional team of food safety leaders,” Neil said. “GFSI is changing the way food safety is managed across the global supply chains and benefitting the entire food industry by its collaborative work. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experiences and contributing to the future strategy and success of GFSI.”

Commenting on the appointment, Chair of the GFSI Board Yves Rey said: "Neil will bring to the Board a wealth of experience in leading global food safety initiatives. He will be a great addition to our Board as he has an extraordinary expertise in managing risks across the global supply chain. We are delighted that he is joining the GFSI Board of Directors and we look forward to working together as we continuously search for better ways to manage food safety across the industry. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank D.V. Darshane for his invaluable contribution during his time on the Board and his enthusiasm for food safety that he has shared with all of us during his involvement with GFSI.”