CEO of Sara Lee Leaves Post

Brenda Barnes, the chief executive and chairwoman of food maker Sara Lee, will permanently step down from her position and relinquish her board seat due to health concerns. Barnes, 56, had been on temporary medical leave since May after suffering a stroke. After spending the majority of her career working with PepsiCo from 1976 to 1996, and serving as CEO of PepsiCola North America from 1996 to 1998, Barnes joined Sara Lee as president and chief operating officer in 2004, and became CEO in 2005. She restructured the company—known for food brands Jimmy Dean and Hillshire Farm—by slimming down operations and ridding the company of unprofitable sectors. Sara Lee's revenue went to $13 billion in 2009 from nearly $16 billion in 2006. It is not yet known who will succeed Barnes, but possible candidates include CFO Marcel Smits or Chief Executive of North American Retail and Foodservice Christopher John Fraleigh.