Institute of Food Technologists Welcomes Maria Velissariou, Ph.D. as Chief Science and Technology Officer

CHICAGO – July 12, 2018 – The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) today announced the hire of Maria Velissariou, Ph.D. as Chief Science and Technology Officer (CSTO). The new position comes in direct response to the evolution taking place in the food industry and underscores the association's focus on how it can best serve all of its members, customers, partners, and the global food system as a whole.

Working in conjunction with IFT's senior leadership and the Board of Directors, as CSTO, Velissariou will provide leadership and vision for IFT’s science and policy initiatives as well as supervision of the science and policy team. She will be responsible for all scientific and technical activities including grant and contract work, regulations, and global scientific and technical assistance initiatives.  She will ensure that the development of scientific content by the Institute is precisely on target to expand the knowledge and advance the careers of IFT’s nearly 17,000 members. Velissariou will also work to raise the Institute’s global visibility and scientific profile among diverse audiences by advocating sound science and its application across global food supply systems.

"Our members are responsible for an increasingly complex global food system,” said IFT CEO Christie Tarantino-Dean. They are experiencing disruptive change in the companies, educational institutions and regulatory bodies where they work and learn. With Dr. Velissariou in this new role, IFT is even better equipped to embrace the challenges and opportunities of our changing industry and support our members with an objective voice for sound science in our global food system.”   

With more than twenty years of industry experience, Velissariou is an accomplished global leader with experience at Fortune 100 companies and $1 billion brands. Prior to joining IFT, she served as the Vice President of Nutrition R&D for Grains, Dairy, and Cohort platforms at PepsiCo. 

Said Velissariou: "I now have the opportunity to contribute in a whole new way to my profession and to my true passion — science. As Rosalind Franklin put it, 'Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated.' In this new role, I look forward to working with some of the most accomplished minds in the science of food to not only reinforce this message, but to also realize IFT's mission and vision."

Velissariou joins IFT after an extensive search, led by global search firm Heidrick & Struggles. She has a Doctorate in Biochemical Engineering, Master of Science in Biochemical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. Her passion for giving back to the community has included serving as one of the founding members of the PepsiCo STEM Executive Council and Chair for Million Women Mentors at PepsiCo and of the Global Committee at STEMconnector. Velissariou also served on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Council for Science & Technology and sponsored the Chicago High School of Agricultural Sciences.                     

About IFT
The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) is a global organization of 17,000 individual members from more than 100 countries committed to advancing the science of food. Since 1939, IFT has brought together the brightest minds in food science, technology and related professions from academia, government, and industry to solve the world’s greatest food challenges. Our organization works to ensure that our members have the resources they need to learn, grow, and advance the science of food as the population and the world evolve. We believe that science is essential to ensuring a global food supply that is sustainable, safe, nutritious, and accessible to all. For more information, please visit ift.org.