Michael Brizel Named Executive Vice President & General Counsel At FreshDirect

NEW YORK, June 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- FreshDirect, a leading online fresh food grocer, announced today that it has named Michael A. Brizel Executive Vice President & General Counsel. In this role, Brizel will be charged with leading all facets of FreshDirect's legal department including corporate governance, community and government affairs, food safety, consumer and data protection, and workplace safety and security. He will report to Jason Ackerman, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of FreshDirect.

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"Mike has an impressive background developing and leading best-in-class legal divisions for top public retail and publishing companies," said Ackerman. "His experience with operationally and consumer-driven environments gives him the unique perspective to successfully advise FreshDirect in our rapid evolution and growth."

Most recently, Brizel served as Executive Vice President & General Counsel of Saks Incorporated where he developed a first-tier legal department for the $3.2 billion public company. He also was that company's Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer and oversaw its asset protection department.

Previously, he held a number of increasingly responsible roles at The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. during his 17-year tenure, including approximately nine years as General Counsel where he managed a global legal department, and later during his tenure, had management oversight of its human resources function.

Before Reader's Digest, Brizel spent six years at General Foods Corporation where held various legal positions. As labor and employment counsel, he handled an extensive array of matters for this then publicly held company, and also advised on acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures.

"I'm thrilled to be coming on board as the company accelerates its business growth, expands its consumer services and builds upon its amazingly dedicated and professional workforce," said Brizel. "I look forward to playing a part in the seismic shift of the food e-commerce industry to the mainstream of the fresh food grocery world, along with FreshDirect's strong leadership team."

Brizel received his B.S. from Cornell University and a law degree from Cornell Law School. He is a board member of the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan New York, Brisbane House, Inc., a residential cooperative, and Congregation Orach Chaim. He is also on the Dean's Special Leadership Committee at Cornell Law School. Brizel resides in New York City with his wife and has two daughters.

About FreshDirect
FreshDirect is a leading online fresh food grocer in the U.S., delivering premium quality fresh-from-the-farm foods and brand-name groceries directly to the doors of customers in the greater New York, New Jersey, Connecticut metro areas and greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, including Delaware. With unique relationships with suppliers and farmers around the world, FreshDirect focuses on providing customers with the best-tasting, freshest, top quality foods and meals. Additionally, FreshDirect's research, development and production facility creates and innovates the more than one thousand unique meals and baked goods produced in house daily by a team of chefs. FreshDirect aspires to be a valued corporate partner in all communities in which it serves, and works extensively with multiple charitable and community partners.

For more information, visit www.freshdirect.com. Follow FreshDirect on Twitter: @freshdirect, Facebook: facebook.com/FreshDirect, and Instagram.

SOURCE FreshDirect