WASHINGTON — The Grocery Manufacturers Association has elected to its board Muhtar Kent, president and chief executive officer of the Coca-Cola Co., and Jeffrey P. Ansell, CEO of Pinnacle Foods Group, GMA announced here yesterday.

“Given the current economic climate, effective board leadership is more important now than ever,” said C. Manly Molpus, GMA’s interim president and CEO, in a statement.

During his 30-year tenure with the Coca-Cola Co., Kent has served in a number of marketing and operations roles. He was appointed president and chief operating officer in 2006 and succeeded Neville Isdell as CEO in July. Ansell is a 25-year veteran of Procter & Gamble where he most recently headed its global pet health and nutrition business. He was named CEO of Pinnacle Foods in 2006.

GMA also recently welcomed new member companies: the Kroger Co., Kerry Ingredients & Flavours, Ruiz Foods, 3M Medical Division, Bridge Strategy Group and Tracegains.

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