Jul 8, 2010
ARLINGTON, VA – July 8, 2010 – Food Marketing Institute (FMI) today announced the recent promotion of Jennifer Hatcher to Senior Vice President, Government and Public Affairs. She will continue to direct all federal and state public affairs outreach work for the nation’s leading supermarket industry trade association. She reports to Leslie G. Sarasin, president and chief executive officer, FMI.

     “Jennifer’s outstanding leadership on issues critical to FMI members and her sharp skills as a coalition-builder and strategic thinker on public policy challenges and opportunities make her an extraordinary advocate for food retailers and wholesalers,” said Sarasin. “Her extensive knowledge of the public policy process and its intricacies has been a tremendous asset to FMI and its members.”

     Previously, Hatcher served as group vice president of government relations at FMI. During her tenure at FMI she has focused on public policy issues impacting payments, emerging technologies, Food Stamps, WIC, financial services and legal reform. She serves as chairman of the legislative subcommittee of the Merchants Payments Coalition, a cross-industry coalition addressing fairness and competition in the credit card interchange fee system.

     Prior to joining FMI in 1998, she served as Chief of Staff to Representative Spencer Bachus (R-AL) who currently holds the Ranking Member position on the House Financial Services Committee. She also served the Secretary of the Treasury as a Special Assistant and White House Liaison during President George H.W. Bush’s Administration and as a White House intern during President Ronald Reagan’s Administration.

Hatcher holds a BA in political science from Vanderbilt University and a Masters in Government from Johns Hopkins University. She is a native of Tennessee and lives in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband and two daughters.

A photograph is available upon request.