Jim Leighton, Chief Executive Officer
Jim has more than 30 years of experience in global CPG and has held executive leadership roles at Perdue Farms, Boulder Brands, and ConAgra. He brings a passion for sharing vision and inspiring teams to reach their full potential, continues to serve on the boards of several organizations, and is the author of Getting F.I.T.: Unleashing the Power of Fully Integrated Teams.
David Sarkisian, Chief Financial Officer
David is a hands-on, performance-driven leader who develops and executes financial strategies across wholesale, retail, and e-commerce channels. He has consistently achieved profitability and surpassed cost targets, builds strong cross-functional partnerships in fast-paced environments, and delivers results by communicating clearly and implementing effective, ground-up solutions.
Lori Henningfield, Chief Commercial Officer
Lori leads Village Gourmet’s Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service teams as Chief Commercial Officer, driving revenue growth and strengthening customer partnerships across all channels. She brings extensive experience in the CPG food industry, having held leadership roles at Heinz, Kraft Heinz, Sauer Brands, and Heartisan Foods. Lori is known for building high-performing teams, developing strong commercial strategies, and fostering collaboration to deliver sustainable, profitable growth.
Melissa Evwiehor, HR Director
Melissa brings extensive human resources experience to Village Gourmet and serves as Human Resources Director. She has led HR operations across hospitality, retail, and fashion, managing recruiting, benefits, employee relations, payroll, and overall HR strategy.
Before joining Village Gourmet, she oversaw HR functions for Carlisle Etcetera LLC and multi-location hospitality organizations, gaining strong expertise in policy development, workforce planning, and talent management.
Sébastien Espinasse, President - Hayward, CA
Sebastien brings 22 years of experience with Fabrique Délices, where he has contributed to product development, brand building, marketing, public relations, and sales. He has cultivated deep expertise within the specialty food community and maintains active involvement across numerous professional organizations, serving in roles such as ambassador, board member, president, and industry speaker.
Claudia Dionne, Marketing Director
Claudia is passionate about gourmet food and brand building and brings more than five years of food and beverage marketing experience to her work. She has earned an M.S. in Marketing from Hult International Business School in London and a B.S. in International Business from Bryant University, and she channels her creativity into crafting engaging brand experiences. Outside of work, she enjoys hosting friends and family with good food, wine, and flowers.
Hameed Khattak, Senior Vice President, Operations
Hameed Khattak is a senior operations leader with over 16 years of experience in CPG and food and beverage manufacturing across highly regulated, multi-site environments. He currently serves as Senior Vice President of Operations at Village Gourmet, where he leads plant operations, safety, quality, and continuous improvement initiatives. He is also the Co-Founder and Executive Director of EHAAR International, applying a systems-based approach to food security and manufacturing excellence.
Meabh (Pronounced “Mave”) O’Neill, VP of National Sales
Meabh brings more than 23 years of experience in the specialty food industry and has established herself as a dedicated and accomplished sales professional. She has built a well-rounded portfolio spanning olives, cheese, and pâté, giving her a deep understanding of the perfect charcuterie experience. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and participating in her weekly choir club.