John Zupo:
John Zupo is President, Nestlé Waters Canada and also serves on the Executive management team of Nestlé Waters North America.
Mr. Zupo is responsible for the overall operations of Nestlé Waters Canada, including revenue, profit, market share, environmental stewardship, product quality and customer satisfaction.
He was appointed President in 2010. Mr. Zupo joined Nestlé Waters Canada in September 2008 as General Manager. He brings more than 14 years of sales and operations experience with Nestlé Waters North America to the role, having served as Director of Sales Operations for the U.S. market for three years and Zone Manager for the Western U.S. region before that.
Mr. Zupo holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Business from Westminster College.
Professionally, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Bottled Water Association and also serves as a member of The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital Philanthropy Leaders Cabinet.
Christopher R. McNeil:
Chris McNeil is Chief Financial Officer, Nestlé Waters Canada. He is also a member of the Company’s leadership team.
Mr. McNeil is responsible for the Company’s day-to-day financial operations and controls, including profit and loss, operating and capital budget management, accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory management and information systems operations.
He joined Nestlé Waters Canada in his current position in November 2008 from Nestlé Canada Inc. where, over a nine-year period, he served in various senior domestic and international financial roles, including Finance Director – Import Categories; North America Finance Director of Health Care and Domestic Nutrition; and Global Infant Category Controller, based in Vevey, Switzerland. Most recently, Mr. McNeil served Nestlé as North American Gerber Integration Lead for Research and Development. Before joining Nestlé, he served in various senior finance roles with Proctor & Gamble, located in Toronto, Ontario.
Mr. McNeil holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University as well as a designation as a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) from the Certified Management Accountants Association of Ontario.
Mireille Duclos:
Mireille Duclos is Director of Human Resources, Nestlé Waters Canada. She is also a member of the Canadian management team.
Ms. Duclos is responsible for the day-to-day human resources activities at Nestlé Waters Canada, including talent and performance management, payroll and benefit management, human resource planning, pensions and benefits, associate training and employee engagement.
She joined Nestlé Waters Canada in December 2010 in her current position. Ms. Duclos brings more than 20 years of related experience to the role, having served in human resources management roles with Nestlé Waters North America, Sears Holdings and Sears Canada, where she began her career.
Ms. Duclos holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources from the University of Waterloo.
She is an active member of the Society for Human Resources Management and holds a Professional HR certification.
Ms. Duclos is fluent in the English and French languages.
John B. Challinor II:
John Challinor II is the Director of Corporate Affairs at Nestlé Waters Canada. He is also a member of the Company’s leadership team.
Mr. Challinor is responsible for Nestlé Waters’ day-to-day corporate communications and public affairs activities in the Canadian marketplace.
He joined Nestlé Waters in June 2008 in his current position. Mr. Challinor brings more than 24 years of corporate and marketing communications experience to the role, having served in executive and senior advertising, industry and government affairs and public relations roles with Amdahl Canada Limited, ATI Technologies Inc., Compaq Canada Limited, Cygnal Technologies Corporation, IBM Canada Limited, Jamieson Laboratories Limited and Sony of Canada Limited. He began his career as a newspaper and television reporter and editor in the Southern Ontario market.
Mr. Challinor holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree in Journalism from Ryerson University, an Accredited Public Relations (APR) designation from the Canadian Public Relations Society and a Certificate in Advertising from the Institute of Canadian Advertising.
He is a former municipal councillor (15 years) with the Corporation of the Town of Milton, Canada’s fastest-growing community. He is a former member of the Communications Committee (12 years), Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC); former member of the Board of Directors (6 years), York Technology Association (YTA); and former member, The Voluntary Sector Network Support Program National Advisory Committee (VOLNET), Government of Canada (4-year Government appointment); and a former member of the Board of Directors (3 years), Milton Hydro Holdings Inc.
Professionally, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Public Relations Society, Toronto chapter, and also serves the national Society as an APR examiner.
Tracey L. Peake:
Tracey Peake is Group Marketing Manager, Domestic and Premium Brands, Nestlé Waters Canada. She also serves the Company as a member of the Leadership Team.
Ms. Peake is responsible for the strategic direction in brand planning, development and implementation of the Nestlé Waters Canadian brand portfolio, which include the Canadian market share brand leader Nestlé Pure Life Natural Spring Water and Montclair Natural Spring Water, as well as the Canadian market leaders in sparkling water, Perrier, S. Pellegrino and Acqua Panna premium fine dining waters.
She joined Nestlé Waters Canada in May 2006 in her current role, bringing more than 12 years of marketing experience to the position, having served in similar positions at Nestlé Canada Inc. and Maple Leaf and Schneider Foods. She began her career in Consumer Affairs with a quick transition into Marketing with experience in Innovation, Relationship Marketing, Promotion, and the Confectionery Seasonal Business at Nestlé Canada Inc.
Ms. Peake graduated from Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Food, Nutrition, Consumer and Family Studies, complimented with a Marketing Certificate from Ryerson School of Business.
Karen M. Young:
Karen Young is General Manager, Sales, Nestlé Waters Canada. She also serves the Company as a member of its leadership team.
Ms. Young is responsible for sales of Nestlé Waters Canada’s market share-leading products across Canada, including Acqua Panna, Montclair, Nestlé Pure Life, Perrier and San Pellegrino through her direction and leadership of headquarter sales, field sales and the customer development organization.
She joined Nestlé Waters Canada in April 2007 as Director, National Accounts, and played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Company’s national account and category management teams. She was promoted to her current position in May 2010, bringing more than 20 years of sales and operations experience with Nestlé Waters Canada, Pepsico and The Quaker Oats Company to the role. Ms. Young started her consumer products industry career in 1989 and has worked in various sales functions, including field sales, headquarter sales, category management, customer development, sales capabilities and sales management in Ontario and western Canada.
Ms. Young holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from The Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario.
She is currently a member of the start-up committee for the Network of Executive Women (NEW). New is a U.S.-based networking group whose mission is to attract, retain and advance women in the consumer products and retail industry through education, leadership and business development. NEW is looking to establish the first Canadian chapter by the end of 2010.
David G. Thorpe:
Dave Thorpe is Director of Supply Chain, Nestlé Waters Canada. He is also a member of the Company’s leadership team.
Mr. Thorpe is responsible for the overall manufacturing and distribution operations and product quality of Nestlé Waters Canada, which includes manufacturing facilities in Hope, British Columbia and Puslinch, Ontario, and distribution facilities in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Puslinch, Ontario and Laval, Quebec. He is also responsible for the Canadian import operations related to global Nestlé brands Acqua Panna, Perrier and San-Pellegrino.
He joined Nestlé Waters Canada in October 2009 in his current role. He has served the Company in various Executive and senior management capacities, most recently as Supply Chain Manager at Nestlé Waters North America’s bottling plant in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Mr. Thorpe brings more than 21 years experience in manufacturing and distribution operations to the company, having served in similar capacities with CVS/Caremark. He began his career with the Perrier Group in 1989 as a Quality Assurance supervisor.
Mr. Thorpe holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Management from Saint Peters College.