The James Beard Foundation Names Woodrow W. Campbell New Chairman Of The Board Of Trustees

Woodrow W. Campbell, law partner at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, has been elected to the position of Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the James Beard Foundation, the Foundation's President Susan Ungaro announced today. Campbell succeeds Dorothy Cann Hamilton, who held the post for the past three years. Campbell, most recently the Foundation's Vice Chairman for the last three years, will assume the role of Chairman effective immediately.

In addition, the Foundation announced the following elections: James Beard Award-winning Executive Pastry Chef Emily Luchetti of Farallon and Waterbar Restaurants in San Francisco was elected as the Board's new Vice Chair; Senior Vice President of Communications & Publications at Merrill Lynch, Jason H. Wright, will remain its Treasurer; while Erica Gruen, a Principal with Quantum Media Consulting, is the new Secretary.

"It has been an honor and privilege to serve as Chairman of the Foundation," said Hamilton, Founder and CEO of The French Culinary Institute, the International Culinary Center and The Italian Culinary Academy. "With so many plans on the drawing board that will continue to positively enhance the food and wine industry, the Foundation is poised to move in exciting new directions under the uniquely talented leadership of Woody Campbell and Susan Ungaro. I want to thank the membership-and especially the hard-working chefs-for their contributions in making the James Beard Foundation the most prestigious culinary nonprofit organization in the world."

Considered a legend in the private equity community, Campbell is credited with developing many techniques that are widely used in the private equity fund industry today. He is a member of the Library Committee and the Photography Council of the Museum of Modern Art and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Visitors of Columbia Law School. Before his law career, Campbell served in the United States Marine Corps (to rank of captain) including service as an infantry platoon leader in the Republic of Vietnam.

"I'm delighted to succeed Dorothy Hamilton as the new chairman of the James Beard Foundation board," said Campbell. "Dorothy was instrumental in leading a successful turnaround effort for the Foundation-we've recruited an extraordinary chief executive during this period, energized and expanded programming, and reformed governance, recruited a strong board, attracted additional major sponsors and successfully revamped the James Beard Awards. I look forward to continuing to advance the Foundation and to working even more closely with Susan Ungaro, our charismatic President, with the Foundation's tireless staff, with our awards committee and the nation-wide network of chefs, restaurateurs and other professionals who make the James Beard Awards and our other programming possible."

As the new Chairman, Campbell will preside over all meetings of the Board and have general charge and supervision of the affairs of the James Beard Foundation, subject to the control of the Board. He will perform other duties as may be assigned by the Board.

About the James Beard Foundation
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the James Beard Foundation is dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and nurturing America's culinary heritage and diversity in order to elevate the appreciation of our culinary excellence. A cookbook author and teacher with an encyclopedic knowledge about food, James Beard, who died in 1985, was a champion of American cuisine. He helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts. Today, the Beard Foundation continues in the same spirit by administering a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships to culinary schools, and publications, and by maintaining the historic James Beard House in New York City's Gre