Kate Barrett has been appointed as director, community affairs, for Campbell Soup Co., effective May 6. Barrett will succeed Kim Fortunato, who last year informed the company of her intent to retire. Fortunato will remain with Campbell until May 6 to ensure a smooth transition.

Barrett will report to Anthony Sanzio, senior vice president, communications and public affairs.

Barrett, who joined Campbell in 2017, will be responsible for setting the strategy and direction of Campbell’s community affairs work, including employee volunteerism, philanthropy, sponsorships and the company’s Full Futures program, which focuses on advancing the school nutrition environment. Barrett will also serve as the president of the Campbell Soup Foundation, pending approval by the foundation’s board of trustees.

“For more than 150 years, Campbell has been committed to supporting the communities we call home and to building a legacy of impact,” Sanzio said. “Since joining Campbell, Kate has played a key role in designing our strategies and programs, and I am confident our community work will build upon that legacy under her leadership.”

Barrett joined Campbell as senior manager, community impact, where she oversaw the company’s direct philanthropic giving and supported the design and management of signature philanthropic programs, Campbell’s Healthy Communities and Full Futures. She was elected vice president of the Campbell Soup Foundation in 2019 and played a vital role in revamping the foundation’s operations and grantmaking approach to align with the company’s strategy and drive employee engagement.

Prior to joining Campbell, Barrett was a project director at the Center for High Impact Philanthropy at the University of Pennsylvania. Earlier in her career, she held roles at technology startups as well as at the global management consulting firm McKinsey & Co.

“I am honored to continue to build upon Campbell’s long history of community impact as we work to strengthen and empower vibrant and equitable communities in our hometowns and support the neighborhoods where our employees live and work,” Barrett said.