Daniel Frailey

The expectation in any boardroom is clear: directors should bring insight, healthy debate, and accountability. But what happens when one doesn’t? More often than you’d think, nothing. In over 400 Board Effectiveness Reviews we’ve conducted globally, we’ve seen a recurring pattern: at least one director consistently underperforms—and remains in place for years. Not because no one notices, but because no one addresses it. Why can giving feedback be so straightforward in the C-suite, yet so difficult in the boardroom? In this new article as part of Egon Zehnder's partnership with HBR Executive, Chuck Gray, Pam Warren, and Greig Schneider unpack the hidden dynamics of board underperformance—and offer practical strategies to tackle it.

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Chicago-based Kraft Heinz made an excellent choice in appointing one of the most experienced and successful global CPG leaders, Steve Cahillane, as its new CEO. Cahillane previously served as CEO of Chicago-based Kellanova and brings deep industry expertise and proven leadership to the role. In 2026, Kraft Heinz plans to split into two companies, temporarily named "Global Taste Elevation" and "North American Grocery". Global Taste Elevation, led then by Cahillane, will include the faster-growing sauces, spreads, and seasonings portfolio, featuring iconic brands such as Heinz, Philadelphia, and Kraft Mac & Cheese. North American Grocery will house legacy brands including Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles, and Lunchables. The objective of this strategic separation is to increase speed to market, reduce complexity, and strengthen proximity to customers. Cahillane is a longtime Chicago resident and advocate for the city, having graduated from Northwestern University. In his first remarks following the announcement, he reaffirmed Kraft Heinz’s commitment to Chicago. Congratulations, Steve! Please read here the Chicago Tribune coverage by Robert Channick here: https://lnkd.in/gUvbH7hc

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Proud to share that Greenfield Partners has led GoodShip’s $25M Series B, combining forces with our friends at Bessemer Venture Partners, Ironspring Ventures, Chicago Ventures, and FUSE! For anyone who has managed freight, the pain is familiar: scattered data, reactive decisions, and too many spreadsheets. GoodShip is building a modern operating system that brings planning, procurement, and performance into one place so transportation teams can act faster with measurable results. By unifying data across systems, teams get real-time visibility and clearer levers. GoodShip is already trusted by the leading enterprise shippers like Tropicana, WK Kellogg, McCain Foods, and KBX Logistics. “The freight industry is moving toward a new operating standard, with GoodShip at the forefront of this shift” says Itay Inbar. “GoodShip is redefining a trillion-dollar industry with a novel approach and rapid AI innovation - unifying procurement and visibility in a platform that’s already proving its value at enterprise scale across the world’s largest shippers.” The team, led by Ryan Soskin and David Tsai, brings deep freight experience and a builder’s mindset, and it shows in every customer conversation. Already, we are hard at work with the GoodShip team in scaling their go-to-market. Our shared goal is straightforward: help more shippers move from reactive decision-making to confident execution. This is the start of an exciting journey ahead. Congratulations to Ryan, David, and the entire GoodShip team—I’m grateful for the partnership and energized for what comes next! Itay Inbar Olivia Levine

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I recently had the privilege of hosting a Mayfield CXO dinner in Chicago, centered on the hard truths of making AI real in the enterprise. A few takeaways from those who attended: 💡Neil Goodrich: "The demands of introducing (and successfully leveraging) AI in your organization go beyond the technical dimensions. They go beyond good use cases. Those are table stakes. The real success factor has everything to do with people – empathy, education, and the experience of others." 💡Ann Yeung: "Enterprise AI success hinges on a relentless focus on *practical* application, not just theoretical potential. And speed matters!" 💡John Mohr: "The world of agentic federated collaboration is at the earliest stages. The insight I gained during a casual dinner with diverse technology executives is invaluable." A big thank you to everyone who joined—these are exactly the conversations that will shape the future. #AI #EnterpriseAI #CXO #Leadership #Collaboration #Innovation

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According to Crunchbase, global food tech funding in 2024 hit just $6B—down from over $20B in 2021. But the real story? M&A is surging. From PepsiCo’s $1.95B acquisition of poppi to David’s purchase of Epogee , strategic buyers are back at the table, hungry for innovation with clear revenue paths. Consolidation is the name of the game as valuations normalize and capital tightens. This is a shift worth watching: visionary tech is no longer enough—now it’s about viability, profitability, and execution. Startups that can deliver are becoming prime acquisition targets. What do you think—is this the golden window for M&A in food tech? Read More: https://lnkd.in/ebgTwSxb #FoodTech #MergersAndAcquisitions #CPG #VentureCapital #SustainableFood #Protein #Innovation #Hospitality #EmergingBrands #FoodInnovation Hospitality Headline Newsletter Branded Hospitality Peter Rahal Mary Ann Azevedo Nathan Cooper Sam Polk, CFA Allison Ellsworth

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"“ Great ideas can come from anywhere. Great executions can come from anywhere. We are always hungry to look at the possibilities." As someone who works with independent agencies, this was perhaps my favorite soundbite from Nandini Anitha Nandakumar of Diageo. Full episode is linked in the comments. Some other great takeaways... Balancing Short-Term Wins with Long-Term Vision... In the ever-changing consumer market, it’s very tempting to focus only on the “right now.” And being visible and trendy can be great in the short term, but lasting success comes from balancing immediate performance with future growth. Leaders today are running into very real issues - changing consumer habits, shrinking budgets, and evolving media consumption are influencing consumers in what they buy. The smartest brands address urgent needs without losing sight of the bigger picture. That means setting clear short-term goals while continuing to invest in innovation, brand equity, and deeper customer connections. Long-term planning isn’t just “nice to have” anymore; it’s necessary to stay relevant when the market starts to shift again. Meeting the Demand for Convenience Today’s consumers, especially younger audiences, are gravitating toward products that fit seamlessly into their fast-paced lives. Convenience isn’t just a perk, it’s an expectation. One major opportunity brands can explore is adapting offerings to meet this demand without sacrificing quality or brand integrity. Nandini says that for beverage brands, ready-to-drink formats are becoming a key growth driver. When you market convenience as part of your brand’s DNA, you attract customers who value both their time and the experience you provide. Cutting Out the Politics to Do What’s Right for the Brand Internal politics can derail even the best client-agency relationships. When everyone is aligned around the same mission, decision-making becomes faster, execution becomes smoother, and results improve. Because if you’re not aligned, it doesn’t matter how great the work is; your agency could find itself on the chopping block at the next budget meeting.

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When we talk about M&A, it's easy to focus on big-ticket acquisitions. But the smartest companies are playing both offense and defense, restructuring their portfolios with a combination of divestitures and targeted buys. Recent news, including the below, inspired me to write Shelf Life, a three-part series about what M&A reckoning and business restructuring look like for CPG conglomerates in uncertain markets. Plus, why it matters for smaller brands looking for a strategic sale down the line. Recent Headlines: - Unilever is closing its REN Clean Skincare business - PepsiCo acquired poppi for $1.95 billion - Juice Beauty, Inc. is liquidating - Church & Dwight Co., Inc. is acquiring touchland - E.L.F. BEAUTY is acquiring rhode skin for $1 billion Check out Part 1 on my Substack, which includes a case study on Shiseido's move away from cosmetics and into skincare. https://lnkd.in/eh7nHH4T

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Disruption is ubiquitous in the U.K. grocery landscape, and business models are on the brink. Grocers and brands face high-stakes decisions ahead. We’ve observed that companies that pull ahead in these critical periods employ two strategic perspectives that others do not: 1) Evaluate options using economic profit as the North Star and 2) Take an end-to-end view of each opportunity to understand the full supply chain implications of every option. Read our full article in The Grocer to see what this looks like in real-world scenarios: https://ow.ly/ic8A50W48Iq. #retail #strategy

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*Younger consumers to the wine industry*: Make it portable AND resealable. In our latest Business of Drinks episode, Britt West, Chief Commercial Officer at GALLO, explains why Barefoot is betting that 200mL TetraPaks will be the next big growth lever for wine. Today’s consumers — especially Gen Z, as he observes — are looking for: 🔸 Single-serve formats that fit their lifestyles and budgets 🔸 Resealable, grab-and-go convenience for occasions like parties, tailgates, and beach days 🔸 Great quality, with no trade-off in freshness or flavor With advances in TetraPak technology like tighter oxygen control and better product stability, wine can now travel and stay fresh in places that glass — or even cans — can’t. This is a wake-up call for every brand in the category: Format innovation is one of wine’s biggest untapped opportunities. 💥 🎧 Watch the full episode on Business of Drinks #BarefootWine #Gallo #BrittWest #WineInnovation #PackagingDesign #BusinessOfDrinks #DrinksBusiness #GenZConsumers #WineTrends #SingleServe #BeverageIndustry Scott Rosenbaum Caroline Lamb

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Recently at #Davos, I had a great conversation with Luiza Savage from Washington Post Intelligence on #reindustrialization and why venture capital backed companies, now more than ever before, are intentionally aligning with government priorities to tackle some of today’s biggest challenges. We are in a new era where startups are looking to build with governments, not create conflict with them. Companies are providing solutions to the supply chain, industrial manufacturing and other resilience challenges, and not simply building for growth. They are creating the physical infrastructure across energy, compute, and hardware that AI transformation requires.  Silicon Valley is now understanding what Washington has always known: you can't scale solutions without trust and a partnership between the public and private sectors. That's the cultural shift that the General Catalyst Institute was built for and one that we propel everyday. Watch the full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/euizrJHt #Davos2026 #GlobalResilience 

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