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Sodexo, a global leader in food services and facilities management, has announced the appointment of Orla Muldoon as General Counsel for North America. In this capacity, Muldoon assumes oversight of the company’s legal, compliance, and government affairs functions for its two largest regional markets: the United States and Canada.

Reporting jointly to Thierry Delaporte, CEO for Sodexo North America, and Angelo Piccirillo, Group General Counsel, Muldoon joins the North America Leadership Team during a period of strategic transition and operational hardening for the organisation.

Muldoon’s appointment is a strategic move to integrate high-level international legal expertise into Sodexo's North American operations. Her background is defined by more than two decades of in-house experience supporting large-scale, highly regulated organisations within the food, beverage, and agriculture sectors—industries that share significant overlaps with Sodexo’s core business.

Key leadership milestones in Muldoon's career include:

• Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM): Spent over a decade in various global executive roles, including Chief Counsel for Compliance Risk Management and Vice President of Global Business Development and M&A.

• Kellogg Company: Held senior legal positions focusing on European and international markets.

• Atlantic Industries (The Coca-Cola Company): Provided legal counsel for one of the world’s most complex beverage distribution systems.

Thierry Delaporte emphasised that Muldoon is a "proven leader with deep expertise navigating complex regulatory environments," noting that her oversight will be critical as Sodexo positions itself for long-term growth and operational rigour.

The North American market represents a significant portion of Sodexo’s global revenue. By appointing a General Counsel with a strong background in Business Development and M&A (from her tenure at ADM), Sodexo is signalling an intent to pursue aggressive yet disciplined expansion.

As the food service industry faces evolving challenges, including labour regulations, sustainability mandates, and supply chain transparency requirements, having a General Counsel who is qualified to practice in multiple jurisdictions (New York, Illinois, Ireland, and England & Wales) provides Sodexo with a high degree of legal agility.