Last updated on June 13th, 2024
The Bumble Bee Seafood Co. has added Dr. Leslie Hushka to its senior leadership team as SVP of global corporate responsibility. Hushka will be responsible for leading the 120-year-old company in its efforts to protect and restore the health of the world’s oceans as it continues to work to close gaps on some of the industry’s biggest sustainability challenges.
Hushka is a seasoned sustainability professional having spent 23 years in research, government affairs and sustainability positions at ExxonMobil, where she was charged with advancing priorities on a wide array of societal issues. Her work included leading the company’s plastic waste solutions programs and external sustainability collaborations.
“Leslie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Bumble Bee that is invaluable as we continue working toward our bold sustainability goals,” said Jan Tharp, president and CEO of the Bumble Bee Seafood Co. “Our company is deeply committed to protecting the health of our oceans and maintaining full accountability for our actions. I’m confident Leslie will continue moving us in the right direction.”
Hushka will oversee the initiatives set forth under Bumble Bee’s recent $40 million commitment to expand its sustainability efforts. Announced in 2020, the Accelerator Fund is being used to ensure the health and abundance of tuna stocks, to reduce the impact of fishing on other species and to remove plastics and other waste from the ocean.
“I am impressed with the actions and commitments that Bumble Bee has made in the sustainability space to-date and could not be more pleased to be joining the team,” said Hushka. “The company’s emphasis on both people and the planet resonates deeply with me, and I’m confident we will continue to make great strides in both areas.”
In 2018, Hushka was recognized as one of the Top 100 Corporate Social Responsibility Influence Leaders by Assent Compliance. She is part of the GreenBiz Executive Network and Corporate EcoForum Network and was nominated among leaders in the sustainability field for the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s 2019 Leading Women Awards. Hushka holds a Ph.D. in pharmacology and toxicology from Purdue University and is board certified by the American Board of Toxicology.
The Bumble Bee Seafood Co. is headquartered in San Diego, California.
