Neil Russell

Neil Russell is Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) at Sysco. As CAO, he is responsible for leading and managing the company’s government and investor relations, communications and public relations, sustainability, and community relations. In addition, he is also accountable for the governance of our strategic initiative portfolio including the Recipe For Growth, ensuring that our major programs remain on track.

Neil began his Sysco career in 2007 as Vice President, Investor Relations, successfully managing relationships with equity markets and expanding Sysco’s shareholder base. In 2014, he served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs at International Paper (Veritiv), where he led the company’s Investor Relations, Communications, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Government Relations functions. He rejoined Sysco in 2015 as Vice President, Investor Relations, and while in that role, took on the additional responsibility for Sysco’s Corporate Communications and CSR teams as well as the role of Treasurer. In 2023, Neil transitioned to Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Chief Communications Officer, and Interim Chief Financial Officer. As Interim CFO, he was responsible for Sysco’s Financial Planning & Analysis, Accounting, Audit, Tax and Corporate Finance departments. He was also responsible for Sysco’s Communications, Sustainability, Government Relations, and Investor Relations functions.

Prior to Sysco, Neil held roles in Strategic Planning, Revenue Management and Financial Auditing at America West Airlines, and Investor Relations, Financial Planning & Analysis, Mergers & Acquisitions and Strategic Planning at Delta Air Lines.

Neil is Secretary of the Board of Kids’ Meals in Houston, a non-profit that delivers free meals to fight hunger in pre-school aged children. He is also on the Strategic Advisory Board of the March of Dimes and has been a volunteer teacher with Junior Achievement for the past 12 years. He was also appointed by the White House Administration to be on the Wilson Center Advisory Board, reporting to Congress, assisting with food security and supply chain complexities around the world.