LOUISVILLE, KY | 13 June 2024 | Following a distinguished career, Elaine Gravatte, President of the Sense Colour Business Unit (a division of Taste & Wellbeing), has announced her intention to retire at the end of July 2024. Ann Leonard, Senior VP & Chief Financial Officer will transition to the role of President of the Sense Colour Business Unit, effective August 1, 2024.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Elaine for her dedication to Givaudan and the natural colour business. She has been instrumental in building the strong position we hold in natural colours today,” says Louie D’Amico, President Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing. “Concurrently, I am excited to welcome Ann to her new role and look forward to this next era for Sense Colour.”

Leonard is well suited for the role, having served in her current position for nearly 15 years overseeing the finance and information technology functions and as regional president for Sense Colour’s Asia operations. Her background includes ten years in the United States Navy and nine years with General Electric in a variety of finance roles and locations. She earned a BS from Purdue University and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. 

“I’m excited to lead our Sense Colour associates through this next stage of growth” Leonard says. “It’s been an honor to work with Elaine as a partner and mentor over the past 15 years and I look forward to building on her legacy.”

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Gravatte, who has been with Sense Colour (formerly as DDW, The Color House) for 24 years, including 10 years as President, will transition out of the presidency starting July 25th but will remain with Sense Colour through the end of the year in an advisory capacity to Ann as she transitions into her new position. 

“This is really a bittersweet moment for me,” says Gravatte. “I’m so grateful for the journey that I’ve been on with this company and for the associates I’ve had the pleasure of working with for the past 25 years. The opportunity to lead this wonderful company has been a blessing that I will never forget. However, everything has a season and I’m looking forward to exploring my next chapter. Ann and I have been working together for some time to ensure a smooth and successful transition for our customers. She will be amazing as she leads the team into the next 5-year vision!”

About Givaudan Sense Colour: Mother Nature supplies the raw materials, Sense Colour adds more than 155 years of color expertise. It is a brilliant partnership that offers a complete range of natural color solutions for the food and beverage industry. Learn more at ddwcolor.com

About Givaudan: Givaudan is a global leading company in taste and wellbeing, and fragrance and beauty. With its heritage stretching back over 250 years, the Company has a long history of innovating scents and tastes. From a favourite drink to your daily meal, from prestige perfumes to cosmetics and laundry care, its creations inspire emotions and delight millions of consumers the world over. The Company is committed to driving purpose-led, long-term growth while leading the way to improve happiness and health for people and nature. In the fiscal year 2020, the Company employed almost 16,000 people worldwide and achieved sales of CHF 6.3 billion and a free cash flow of 12.8% of sales. Let’s imagine together on www.givaudan.com.