MOREHEAD, KY - In February of this past year, AppHarvest made a name for itself as the first greenhouse company to go public through the launch of its IPO. Now, the AgTech innovator has made another key move to drive its evolution as it has announced Julie Nelson as its new Executive Vice President, Operations, tapping into her years of expertise with companies like PepsiCo to increase its supply chain capabilities.
“AppHarvest’s mission aligns with my personal values,” Nelson said. “AppHarvest’s vision of combining the best that nature offers boosted with world-class technology to sustainably and affordably grow nutritious fruits and vegetables is inspiring, and I look forward to building a best-in-class operational team in support of this mission to build a climate-resilient food supply.”
In her new position, Nelson will play a key role as an Executive Management Committee member, reporting to President David Lee. She will also aid in developing company strategy, establishing operations, and driving efficiency to reach productivity and cost goals while guaranteeing quality and customer satisfaction.
Nelson joins the company after most recently serving at McKinsey & Company, according to a press release. Prior to that, she held a long tenure at PepsiCo, where she led supply chain teams and the global operations team. While with the company, her focus included network optimization, scaling digital technologies, and end-to-end value chain productivity.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Nelson is also an advisory council member for the West Virginia University Global Supply Chain Management Program.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Webb commented on Nelson’s recent appointment.
“Julie has battleground-tested experience in scaling operations across sites,” he said. “Her recent focus on improving sustainability in the food and beverage supply chain by reducing food waste, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions makes her a natural fit at AppHarvest.”
Lee mirrored Webb’s sentiments.
“Julie’s deep experience optimizing complex manufacturing and distribution networks for major consumer goods companies and her proven ability to drive productivity across the supply chain will help us to deliver improved profitability as we scale,” he added.
Cheers to Julie Nelson as she takes this next step in her career!
