Catherine Corley Named Senior Vice President, Global Operations (Media Release)

(New York, January 15, 2015)—Catherine Corley joined Catalyst on January 12 as Senior Vice President, Global Operations. An accomplished senior marketing executive and business leader, Catherine served most recently as Vice President, Member Services, at Sam’s Club, owned and operated by Walmart, Inc. In her new role, Catherine will lead the Membership and Marketing Teams, as well as Catalyst’s field organizations in Canada, Europe, India, Japan, and Australia. She will also assume responsibility for Catalyst’s emerging markets strategy.

“Catherine brings a remarkable depth of knowledge and experience to Catalyst’s work globally. Her talent and commitment to women’s leadership and inclusive workplaces will help ensure Catalyst continues to achieve its vision of ‘Changing workplaces. Changing lives.’ around the world,” said Deborah Gillis, President and Chief Executive Officer, Catalyst.

At Sam’s Club, Catherine led the development of transformational new services to build membership, create loyalty, and establish Sam’s Club as a champion for micro-businesses. Using a research-backed approach, her team developed a new services strategy and conceptualized a strategic initiative which positioned Sam’s Club to have a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Prior to this role, Catherine served as Vice President, Member Strategy and Program Development, at Sam’s Club where she helped redefine the member value proposition and created new benefits and services for their member community.

Catherine’s extensive business experience also includes strategic planning, corporate strategy and development at Tyson Foods, Inc., where she led a five-year global strategic planning process, brand and advertising, product marketing ($2 billion in sales), customer development, and new product innovation (receiving Tyson Foods’s Marketer of the Year Award). Earlier in her career, Catherine worked at Kraft Food Ingredients where she was responsible for branded and private-label commodity shortening and oil products.

“Throughout my corporate career, I have been a champion of gender-diverse leadership,” said Catherine. “I have long admired the role Catalyst plays in driving meaningful change in women’s representation at all levels of business. I’m thrilled to now have the chance to help advance the mission of Catalyst throughout the world.”

Catherine has a B.S.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Arkansas, an M.B.A. from the University of Memphis, and is a Certified Public Accountant. Catherine has demonstrated her commitment to women in the workplace through her professional affiliations and board service, including The Foundation of the Women Presidents’ Organization. She is a Diversity MBA Top 100 under 50 honoree and was recognized by Women’s Foodservice Forum as an Emerging Leader.

ABOUT CATALYST
Founded in 1962, Catalyst is the leading nonprofit membership organization expanding opportunities for women and business. With offices in the United States, Canada, Europe, India, Australia, and Japan and more than 700 member organizations, Catalyst is the trusted resource for research, information, and advice about women at work. Catalyst annually honors exemplary organizational initiatives that promote women’s advancement with the Catalyst Award.