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Meet Our Leadership Team

Sally Grimes
Chief Executive Officer

For Sally, five bottom lines are better than one. Leading a Five Aspirations company means she focuses on growing the Clif Bar business, along with putting her energy, expertise, and trademark heart into championing our people, our communities, and a healthier planet.

Sally brings more than 25 years of food industry leadership and innovation experience, most recently as Group President of Prepared Foods at Tyson. She’s also been recognized by Fast Company as one of the Most Creative People in Business. Fun fact: Sally takes two LUNA® Chocolate Peppermint Stick bars with her when traveling. One for her and one for people she meets along the way.

Amy Norris
Executive Legal Counsel

The ultimate counselor-meets-adventurer, it is no coincidence Amy has spent more than half her legal career at a company created for people with active lifestyles. A passionate lover of the environment, Amy leads Clif Bar’s legal department, providing counsel on a variety of topics, including compliance, risk management, food and advertising law, corporate governance, and business issues.

Prior to joining Clif in 2008, Amy worked in several private law firms in San Francisco. But she hasn’t always been in the Bay Area—after graduating from college, she spent time in West Africa as a member of the Peace Corps.

Hari Avula
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial & Strategy Officer

Hari has more years in international business under his belt than he has room for stamps in his passport. Along with driving strong financial performance at Clif, Hari leads enterprise strategy with a team built upon a diversity of perspectives, skill sets, and just the right amount of healthy skepticism.

Prior to Clif, Hari served as CFO of the US Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance and CFO of PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay North America Division. Just like it is in the Clif office, Halloween is big at the Avula house, with CLIF® Minis being Hari’s treat of choice.

Jennifer Bentz
Executive Vice President,
Applied Technology & Insights

Jen brings a down-to-earth calmness to problem solving. A lover of high-country hikes, CLIF® Thins, and the Bay Area she now calls home, Jen has a sixth sense for understanding consumers. Guided by Clif’s purpose, grounded in data and thoughtful strategy, and driven by her experience in the food industry, Jen is helping the Clif team successfully navigate an ever-evolving marketplace.

Previously, Jen held senior roles in marketing, innovation, consumer insights, and analytics at Tyson, Kraft Foods, and SC Johnson. At Clif, Jen’s steady approach and mantra — “we’re better when we work together” — are a perfect fit.

Mike McLaughlin
Executive Vice President,
Food Supply

A food industry veteran and lifelong musician who plays in the Clif Bar company band, Mike prides himself on maintaining harmony between our end-to-end global supply chain, bakeries, and customers. In his role, Mike oversees Clif’s procurement, planning, manufacturing, delivery, food safety and quality teams, including our state-of-the-art Twin Falls and Indianapolis bakeries which he has helped build and grow.

Prior to joining Clif in 2011, Mike held executive and supply chain leadership positions at Driscoll’s, Bell-Carter Foods, and Quaker Oats. When not making bars (or music), Mike can be found exploring the Bay Area with his wife and three daughters.

Rizal Hamdallah
Chief Innovation Officer

Rizal and his team are constantly cooking up tasty, purposeful food concepts to keep Clif’s customers feeling energized. With an appetite for creative thinking and relentless tinkering, as well as a keen eye for product design, Rizal continues to deliver industry-leading innovation with the enthusiasm that helped land him on Boston Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” list.

Previously, Rizal was Global Chief Growth Officer at Ocean Spray, where he led the development of a new wellness-focused portfolio. He was also a leading force in the creation of Lighthouse, the company’s innovation incubator. Rizal’s proudest achievement to date? The birth of his son, Sebastian.

Roma A. McCaig
Senior Vice President,
Impact & Communications

A heavy metal–listening, Vespa-riding, big-time foodie, Roma brings more than 25 years of corporate social responsibility, operational strategy, and communications experience to her role at Clif. She also brings a successful track record of driving high-profile business strategies and large change initiatives in the consumer-packaged goods, healthcare, and technology industries.

Prior to Clif, Roma was Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at Campbell Soup Company, where she led environmental, social, and governance strategy. Her work focused on enhancing business performance, energizing employees, and driving societal impact. In short, she’s a rock star who’s bringing positive energy to the Clif team.

Sarah Ciccarello
Executive Vice President of Sales

Known for building a special blend of “teaminess” with her sales colleagues, Sarah always gets her steps in—whether that’s walking the retail aisles, surfing the digital shelf, checking out new products, or turning her keen eye toward the latest shopper insights. With Sarah’s expertise and seemingly boundless energy leading the way, it’s no surprise that Clif’s sales team is competing to win and reaching for new heights.

Previously, Sarah helped lead sales at PepsiCo. Now, when she’s not on the road for Clif, she’s likely enjoying an early morning workout at the employee gym. Keep it up, Sarah!

Shannon DiDonato
Executive Vice President,
Human Resources & Organization Development

Meet the dog lover and aspiring chef who believes in putting people at the center of everything we do. As a passionate champion for Clif’s culture, Shannon is energized to be part of a purpose-driven food company where the success and well-being of people is a core value.

Prior to joining Clif in 2014, Shannon held senior HR leadership roles at Levi Strauss & Company, Jackson Family Wines, and Webvan Group. In her free time, you can find Shannon hiking with her dogs, on her Peloton, or cooking for family and friends.

Shaunté Mears-Watkins
Chief Commercial Officer

For someone who knows all about the power of brand love, Shaunté leads with values and purpose and shares that connection with her team. A veteran of leadership positions at top global brands spanning packaged goods to prestige cosmetics, Shaunté has spent her career driving growth through sales, marketing, and general management roles.

Before coming to Clif, Shaunté worked as Vice President of Strategy at The Clorox Company, where she focused on accelerating enterprise growth through integrated cross-functional choices. When she’s not thinking about the latest consumer trends, Shaunté can be found out for a run or baking for her biggest fans, her family.