Leslie Hushka named SVP of global corporate responsibility at Bumble Bee

Bumble Bee Seafood has hired Leslie Hushka, the former senior sustainability advisor at ExxonMobil, as its senior vice president of global corporate responsibility.

Hushka will be given responsibility for leading the San Diego, California, U.S.A.-based company’s USD 40 million (EUR 35.5 million) commitment over the next five years to sustainability efforts focused on protecting and preserving the marine environment.

The San Diego, California, U.S.A.-based tuna firm has embarked on several new initiatives, including the launch of an accelerator fund “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,” since it was bought by the Taiwanese company FCF Co. for USD 928 million (EUR 826 million), and after pleading guilty to a criminal charge of price-fixing.

“Leslie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Bumble Bee that is invaluable as we continue working toward our bold sustainability goals,” Bumble Bee Seafood President and CEO Jan Tharp said. “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 spent the past 23 years in various positions at ExxonMobil, including roles in research, government affairs, communications, and sustainability. Her work included leading the company’s plastic waste solutions programs and external sustainability collaborations, according to Bumble Bee. In 2018, Hushka was named one of the Top 100 Corporate Social Responsibility Influence Leaders by Assent Compliance. She has a doctorate in pharmacology and toxicology from Purdue University and is board-certified by the American Board of Toxicology.

“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,” Hushka said. “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.”

Photo courtesy of Leslie Hushka/LinkedIn