Ann Fudge
hey
Marie Fudge; born c. 1951, in Washington, DC; daughter of a U.S. Postal Service administrator and a National Security Agency manager; married Richard Fudge, Sr. (an educational and training consultant to businesses and nonprofit groups), c. 1970; children: Richard Jr., Kevin.
Education: Simmons College, B.A. (honors), 1973; Harvard Business School, M.B.A., 1977.
Memberships: National Black MBA Association, 1981--; Junior League, 1981--; Executive Leadership Council (has served as vice president and president); member of board of directors of Allied Signal, Inc., and Liz Claiborne, Inc., both since 1993, and of Simmons College, Harvard Business School Alumni Association, and the Catalyst Advisory Board.
Career
General Electric Company, manpower specialist, 1973-75; General Mills Corporation, Minneapolis, MN, marketing assistant, 1977-78, assistant product manager, 1978-80, product manager, 1980-83, marketing director, 1983-86; Kraft General Foods, White Plains, NY, associate director of strategic planning, 1986-89, vice president for marketing and development in the Dinners and Enhancers division, 1989-91, general manager of same division, 1991-93, executive vice president, 1993--, president of Maxwell House Coffee division, 1994--.
Life's Work
Ann Fudge's estimable rise through the ranks of corporate power have made her one of the most influential--while also one of the youngest--decision-making women in American business. Yet her success has gone relatively unnoticed amongst media tallies of other female movers and shakers in high positions--but that's probably not something to which the dynamic and well-regarded executive gives much thought. Named president of Maxwell House Coffee in 1994, a division of tobacco conglomerate Philip Morris's Kraft Foods division, Fudge is responsible for overseeing quality and marketing for the venerable coffee brand and its sister product General Foods International Coffees. Her achievement is all the more...
View Full Essay
