Rob Chester will be managing director of food safety and Jackie Healing, director of consulting and technical services.
Chester will lead NSF International’s food safety services and operations in the UK and be part of the senior management team for the NSF Food Safety Division’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.
Retailer experience
He has experience in responsible sourcing, risk management and trading law and as chief compliance officer for a division of Walmart, a US-based retailer.
Chester was senior director of responsible sourcing for Walmart, US in Leeds, UK, where he led such teams in the UK, South Africa, China, India and Japan.
He also worked as a senior director of operations compliance developing strategies for Walmart’s 5,000 stores in the US.
His experience as the chief compliance officer in China for Walmart China included creation and implementation of a compliance system.
Chester previously worked for ASDA Stores in the UK as the head of risk and compliance as well as a senior trading law and technical manager for Tesco Stores including assessment of international operations in Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, Czech and Slovak Republics, Poland and Hungary.
Brand reputation
Healing will lead NSF International’s team of UK consultants providing supply chain, risk and crisis management consulting and technical services that help companies protect their brands.
She developed a technical and responsible sourcing program for Coles Supermarkets in Australia. This program evaluated the sourcing practices of more than 500 seafood operations.
Healing has been president of the Sustainable Agriculture initiative in Australia and spoken globally on risk mitigation for food and non-food manufacturing and retail.
NSF International’s Global Food Safety Division and Consulting and Technical Services team looks at consulting, supply chain and crisis management and risk assessment and management.
Tom Chestnut, SVP of NSF International’s Global Food Safety Division, said the appointments helps meet the rising need for experienced food safety and compliance experts who can help companies manage increasing regulatory requirements, complex operations and supply chains.
“Our clients will benefit from Rob’s leadership in the areas of compliance, risk management, responsible sourcing and trading law. They’ll also benefit from the vast experience Jackie brings in leading transformative food safety and quality programs that help companies protect their brands and manage risks unique to their supply chains and businesses.”