The board of directors of the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) said Peggy Davies was named acting president of the association. Her appointment follows the death of Brian Sharoff, president, who passed away last month after a brief illness. Since 2016, Davies has served as PLMA vice president, association relations.

“For four decades, Brian was the face of PLMA,” said Lisa Manzoline, director of sales for Reynolds Consumer Products and Chairman of the Board of Directors of PLMA. “It is now our responsibility to focus on the future. As the board of directors, we understand this is a difficult and challenging time for many different reasons. We have full confidence that Peggy Davies will be a capable and dynamic leader of PLMA at this crucial juncture — one who is familiar with our member base and the unique challenges we face for the remainder of 2020 and into 2021. Peggy has the experience and qualifications needed, and is 100% ready to carry forward the important work of the association from day one, as the executive board conducts a search to determine a permanent successor.”

Before joining PLMA, Davies was elected to the board of directors in the early 1990s, where, over the course of two terms, she either served on or chaired the programming, trade relations and communications committees. She was elected board chairman for two terms from 2003 to 2004 and, among many other accomplishments, dedicated efforts toward expanding PLMA’s commitment to education for industry executives, New York-based PLMA said.

Davies brings three decades of private label industry experience in executive positions. With Daymon Associates from 1985 to 1989, she was involved in building the private label program at Wegmans Supermarkets in Rochester, N.Y. From there, she entered the manufacturing business as vice president of private label sales for Comstock Michigan Fruit-Agrilink-Birds Eye. And from 1999 to 2015, she was foodservice general manager for the ingredient business at McCain Foods USA. In 2012, Davies founded Women Impacting Storebrand Excellence (WISE), a nonprofit professional development organization that aims to promote diversity and inclusion in the store brand industry.

Commenting on her appointment, Davies said: “I’m honored and deeply grateful to the PLMA executive committee and board of directors for entrusting me with this tremendous responsibility. As we deal with Brian’s loss, we will best honor his decades-long legacy by carrying on his vision, which we have worked together to build on these last four years. I have been inspired by my close relationship with him for more than 25 years, and with our outstanding and dedicated staff, I am eager to carry forward the exceptional programs we created.”