HOUSTON, TX - Sysco Corporation, the leading global foodservice distribution company, has appointed Jennifer Kaplan Schott to the position of Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, effective April 1, 2025.

“I’m delighted to welcome Jennifer to our executive leadership team,” said Kevin Hourican, Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Sysco, in a recent press release. “Jennifer’s extensive experience across multiple fields of law, and in complex multinational businesses, make her the ideal leader to join us as we continue to advance our Recipe for Growth strategy, while protecting the interests of our company and our people.”

Schott joins Sysco with over 25 years of in-house and large law firm experience. She most recently served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Illinois Tool Works, Inc. (ITW). ITW is a Fortune 300 global multi-industry manufacturing leader with a market capitalization of more than $77 billion. The company does business in more than 50 countries worldwide and has 44,000 employees. As General Counsel, Schott helped ITW manage a complex global business, as well as acting on the company’s behalf through multiple M&A transactions. Prior to serving as ITW’s GC, Schott was Deputy General Counsel & Assistant Corporate Secretary at Caterpillar Inc. and earlier, spent 16 years at Discover Financial Services holding legal positions of increasing responsibility, culminating in the role of Vice President, Assistant General Counsel & Assistant Corporate Secretary.

At Sysco, Schott will play a key advisory role to executive leadership and the Board of Directors, while leading teams responsible for Legal and Company Secretary, Ethics and Compliance, Communications and Government Affairs. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Illinois and received a Juris Doctor from the Chicago-Kent College of Law.