The advisory board will pressure-test strategy and enable faster decisions as Finlays Solutions scales.
GLENVIEW, Ill., Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Finlays Solutions, a leading global B2B beverage solutions provider, has appointed Kristin Bird, president of food service at The Marzetti Company, and Trevor Bynum, former president and CEO of Welch Foods, as Independent Non-Executive Directors on its advisory board. Bird and Bynum join Jennifer Aspen Mason, a founding Independent Non-Executive Director, further strengthening the independent expertise supporting Finlays Solutions as it scales. Together, they bring complementary experience spanning food service, beverage and consumer products, commercial growth, innovation, sustainability and strategic transformation. Established in April 2026, the Finlays Solutions Advisory Board counsels senior leadership as the company executes its mission to drive sustainable growth in natural beverages for the world’s leading brands, retailers and food service operators.
Both appointees bring strong food service expertise to guide Finlays Solutions’ growth following its 2025 integration of Leahy-IFP. The integration doubled Finlays Solutions’ footprint in North America and significantly expanded its food service capabilities, unlocking high-tech aseptic manufacturing and fruit-based beverage solutions, including high-growth Refreshers.
“As Finlays Solutions looks to its next stage of growth, the strength and breadth of our independent directors is an important asset,” said Darnell Ross, CEO of Finlays Solutions. “Jennifer brings deep expertise in innovation, sustainability and strategic growth, while Trevor and Kristin add exceptional operational, commercial and food service leadership. Together with our full advisory board, they give us a broad range of perspectives as we capitalize on the unique advantages we’ve created by bringing tea, coffee, fruit-based beverages, botanicals and aseptic manufacturing under one roof.”
Independent Non-Executive Directors
Finlays Solutions’ Independent Non-Executive Directors bring complementary perspectives from across the global food, beverage and consumer products industries, providing strategic guidance as the business pursues its next phase of growth.
- Jennifer Aspen Mason serves as Executive Vice President & Chief Sustainability Officer of J.M. Huber Corporation, where she leads the company’s sustainability strategy across its products, services and processes and engages with customers, suppliers and the global innovation community. She joined Huber in 2017 as Senior Vice President of Global Innovation for CP Kelco. Previously, Jennifer held senior innovation and R&D leadership roles at Mars, Inc. and Unilever. Her experience spans sustainability, innovation, science and technology strategy, and the alignment of acquisitions and partnerships with long-term business priorities. Jennifer also serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director of James Finlay Limited.
- Kristin Bird is president of food service at The Marzetti Company, where she has led substantial growth in the food service division since 2019. Kristin brings more than 25 years of food service industry experience, having held senior leadership roles at Tyson Foods, Hillshire Brands, Sara Lee, Unilever and ConAgra Foods, with expertise in channel strategy, go-to-market execution and business transformation.
- Trevor Bynum is the former president and CEO of Welch Foods, where he led a multi-year turnaround of the cooperative, delivering significant revenue growth and margin improvement. Trevor’s career spans senior commercial leadership roles at Schwan’s, WhiteWave Foods and General Mills, with deep experience in beverage, food service go-to-market strategy and M&A integration.
Finlays Solutions Advisory Board Roster
Founding members of the advisory board include:
- Sean Pelling, Group Financial Director, John Swire & Sons (Chairman)
- James Woodrow, Managing Director, James Finlay Limited
- Julian Rutherford, CFO & COO, James Finlay Limited
- Jennifer Aspen Mason, Independent Non-Executive Director
- Darnell Ross, CEO, Finlays Solutions
- Brent Fayhee, CFO, Finlays Solutions
About Finlays Solutions
Headquartered in Glenview, IL, with operations across Illinois, Rhode Island, Texas, the U.K., and Kenya, Finlays Solutions is a global leader in beverage innovation, specializing in high-quality tea, coffee, botanical and fruit-based solutions and aseptic manufacturing. With generations of expertise through its parent company Finlays, Finlays Solutions blends tradition with cutting-edge technology to craft exceptional, sustainable and innovative beverages. Its customer-centric approach and deep industry knowledge make Finlays Solutions a trusted partner, providing expert guidance and comprehensive support throughout the development journey. Whether through advanced technology, market insights or bold ideas, Finlays Solutions is committed to shaping the future of beverages. For more information visit www.Finlays-Solutions.com or check out Finlays Solutions on LinkedIn.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/finlays-solutions-appoints-two-food-service-leaders-to-advisory-board-302865421.html
SOURCE Finlays Solutions
