HOUSTON, Feb. 15, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- SYSCO Corporation (NYSE:SYY), North America's largest foodservice marketer and distributor, announced today that G. Kent Humphries has been named senior vice president of Canadian foodservice operations. Mr. Humphries has served most recently as president and chief executive officer of Sysco Food Services of Baltimore, LLC and will assume his new position effective March 1, 2007. Mr. Humphries will be responsible for all of SYSCO's broadline foodservice operations in Canada. He succeeds Bruce L. Soltis who will retire at the end of this fiscal year.
"We are very grateful to Bruce Soltis for having established and led the Canadian operations since 2002. His many extraordinary efforts and outstanding contributions have greatly impacted SYSCO's growth and success in the Canadian market. We wish him and his wife Margaret Mary the best in his retirement," said Richard J. Schnieders, chairman, CEO and president of SYSCO Corporation. "Kent Humphries' 35 years of SYSCO experience give him a strong foundation to assume the leadership of this important market. We congratulate Kent on his achievements and welcome him in his new role."
Mr. Humphries, 57, has been associated with SYSCO throughout his entire career. He began working at Sysco Food Services of Albany, NY in 1972 as a marketing associate. After advancing through various positions at the Albany operating company he was named general manager of the corporation's Horseheads, NY division in 1978. Three years later, Mr. Humphries returned to Albany as executive vice president and in 1983 he was appointed president and chief executive officer of Sysco Food Services of Syracuse, NY. In 1996 he was promoted to his current position. During his career at SYSCO, he has been a member of the Operations Council, Merchandising Services Council and Directors Council. He also served as president of the Empire State Foodservice Association in New York and of the Boy Scouts Hiawatha Council in Syracuse, NY. In addition, Mr. Humphries was a member of the United Way Board of Directors in Howard County, MD. He is currently president of the Board of Directors of Thousand Island Corporation, NY.
Mr. Humphries earned a bachelor of science degree in finance from the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO in 1972. In 1976 he earned a master of business administration degree in finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Soltis, 62, began his SYSCO career in 1972 at the company's operation in Saginaw, MI and progressed to executive vice president in 1975. In 1977 Mr. Soltis transferred to Arrow-Sysco, the predecessor company to Sysco Food Services of New Orleans and in 1980 he was named to the position of president of the operation. In 1966 he earned a bachelor of science degree in business from Macalester College located in St. Paul, MN. Following his service as an officer in the United States Navy he attended the University of Michigan, located in Ann Arbor, where he received a master of business administration degree in 1972.
Sysco Food Services of Canada, Inc. markets and distributes food and related products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments, business and industry locations, and other foodservice operations throughout the Canadian provinces.
SYSCO is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. For the calendar year 2006, the company generated $33.9 billion in sales. For more information about SYSCO visit www.sysco.com.