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We are pleased to announce that Robert Prevendar, representing Yum! and Kristine Williams from The Coca-Cola Company have joined the GFSI Steering Committee.
Composed of food safety executives from global retailers and manufacturers, the Committee oversees all GFSI activities: defining strategy, upholding governance principles, and ensuring accountability for Certification Programme Owners (CPOs) to protect system integrity, while strictly adhering to antitrust and competition law.
The integration of new members such as Kristine Williams and Robert Prevendar strengthens the Committee’s capacity to execute this essential global mission.
Robert Prevendar
Robert has over 30 years of experience working in food safety – from local regulatory to global corporate Food Safety roles. Throughout his career has lived and worked in the US, Europe, and Asia – cultivating a global perspective.
In July of 2020, he joined Yum! Brands as Director of Global Food Safety & Quality Assurance. In February of 2025, he was appointed as Chief Food Safety & Quality Assurance Officer.
He and his team lead strategies to strengthen management systems and culture to drive continuous improvement in food safety & quality across the global supply chain and 60,000 Yum! restaurants around the world.
Previously, Robert spent 18 years with NSF International, where he led Global Supply Chain Food Safety Programmes.
“Delivering on GFSI’s mission of “Safe Food for People Everywhere” takes a connected ecosystem, working together.
Accreditation Bodies, CPOs, Certification Bodies, and FBOs all have essential roles to play.
I look forward to contributing my experience and perspectives to drive continuous improvement in the food safety outcomes we strive for.”
Kristine Williams
Kristine Williams has 25 years of experience leading high‑performing teams across product development, quality & safety, and advanced engineering. She is SVP and Chief Quality, Safety, and Environmental Officer at The Coca‑Cola Company.
Previously, Kristine was SVP of Product at Rapid Micro Biosystems, helping scale technologies in advanced automation, AI, and data analytics for microbial contamination detection.
She also spent 17 years at Ecolab in senior leadership roles, driving global innovation and operational excellence in food safety, hygiene, and sustainability across more than 170 countries.
Kristine holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and executive certifications from MIT and Wharton Business School.
“I’ve learned through my years of experience that food safety excellence fuels operational efficiency and strengthens consumer trust, creating lasting business differentiation.
I am committed to ensuring GFSI’s focus empowers global manufacturers to meet the complex operational and economic challenges they face on a day-to-day basis.”
Elizabeth Andoh-Kesson, GFSI Interim Director, said
“We are proud to welcome Kristine Williams and Robert Prevendar to GFSI’s Steering Committee. The deep operational, governance, and technical experience they both bring is precisely what we need to continue our mission to build a more rigorous and trustworthy food safety ecosystem.”