Hyde Park, NY 鈥 The Board of Trustees of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) today announced the appointment of Michiel Bakker as the college鈥檚 sixth president, effective September 1, 2024. Bakker will further CIA鈥檚 eight-decade legacy of leadership and excellence. The Board鈥檚 decision follows an extensive, 10-month global search. Bakker succeeds Dr. Tim Ryan, the Institute鈥檚 longest-serving president, who held the role since 2001 and who moves into the new role of chancellor.
鈥淚n its 78-year history, 澳门六合彩搅珠直播has had just five presidents鈥攑retty astounding when you consider that the average college president鈥檚 tenure is less than six years1,鈥 said Board Chair John Metz, Jr. 鈥淲e were committed to finding the person who would ensure that 澳门六合彩搅珠直播continues to be the world鈥檚 premier culinary college. Michiel Bakker鈥檚 experience speaks for itself, and we are confident he is the president to build on CIA鈥檚 strong foundation and usher the college into its next era.鈥
For the past 12 years, based in Mountain View, CA, Bakker worked in various global leadership roles at Google. From 2012 to 2021, he was responsible for Google鈥檚 celebrated Food at Work program, supporting all foodservice-related activities and initiatives, as well as developing internal and external partnerships to explore and tackle the challenges and opportunities in global food systems.
He also led Google鈥檚 Global Workplace Programs organization with overall responsibilities for the ongoing delivery of events, health and performance, transportation, and food at work services to more than 250,000 individuals worldwide. Most recently, Bakker steered the Global Workplace Strategy, Innovation, and Sustainability team, leading the work on Google鈥檚 long-term workplace strategy, workplace experience, and sustainability efforts for Google鈥檚 global office real estate portfolio.
Before joining Google in 2012, Bakker spent 17 years with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. in various hotel and global food and beverage operations roles. These included creating and building out partnerships, leading hotel food and beverage developments and openings, food experience design, and running hotel and food and beverage operations.
Bakker holds an Executive MSc degree in Real Estate and Construction Management from the University of Denver Daniels College of Business, a Master of Hospitality Administration degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, an MBA from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom, and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Hotel Administration from the Hotel Management School Maastricht in the Netherlands.
He is an active contributor to various advisory boards of organizations including the Yale Center for Customer Insights, the EAT Forum, the World Food Program Innovation Accelerator, and the Beans is How initiative. He is also a member of the James Beard Foundation鈥檚 Board of Trustees and the Supervisory Board of the Dutch food waste focused startup Orbisk. In addition, Bakker hosts the Food Lab Talk podcast, which highlights bold visions and inspiring actions for the future of food systems, and he contributed a chapter to the book Food Inc. 2. He has been involved with 澳门六合彩搅珠直播for many years, serving on the advisory councils for the college鈥檚 Sustainable Food Systems master鈥檚 degree and its Menus of Change庐 initiative, and he piloted the college鈥檚 ProChef庐 Plant-Forward Kitchen training and certification program at Google.
鈥淪tepping into the role of president at the Culinary Institute of America is a dream come true for me, as 澳门六合彩搅珠直播is an organization I have admired and supported for so many years,鈥 Bakker said. 鈥淚n this new role, I will be able to bring together my deep passion for all aspects of the food and beverage industry, lifelong learning, hospitality, and enabling individuals to be at their best. Building upon the college鈥檚 legacy, reputation, and alumni network, I鈥檓 excited and eager to collaborate with the incredible faculty, staff, and stakeholders to propel 澳门六合彩搅珠直播forward, ensuring students continue to graduate with the skills and knowledge to thrive in the dynamic and most amazing and rewarding world of food and beverage.鈥
Bakker was born and raised in the Netherlands and moved to the U.S. in 1995, to marry his wife Nicolette, a New York State native, who hails from Middletown. Over the subsequent years, they lived and worked in cities including Atlanta, GA; Gleneden Beach, OR; Washington, DC; Philadelphia, PA; Brussels, Belgium; and the San Francisco Bay Area. Currently they reside in Los Gatos, CA, and will relocate to New York for the position.
Bakker, now a proud Dutch-American, is an avid reader, has a deep affinity for food and food systems, and loves to hike, explore cities, and enjoy great meals with family and friends. He and Nicolette have two sons: Brian, a graduate of the University of Oregon, and Andrew, who is looking forward to graduating from Clemson University later this year.
Media Contact:
Amanda Secor
Associate Director鈥擨ndustry Marketing and Communications
845-451-1457
Amanda.Secor@culinary.edu
About the Culinary Institute of America:
Founded in 1946, the Culinary Institute of America is the world鈥檚 premier culinary college. Dedicated to developing leaders in foodservice and hospitality, the independent, not-for-profit 澳门六合彩搅珠直播offers master鈥檚, bachelor鈥檚, and associate degrees with majors in culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, food business management, hospitality management, culinary science, and applied food studies. The college also offers executive education, certificate programs, and courses for professionals and enthusiasts. Its conferences, leadership initiatives, and consulting services have made 澳门六合彩搅珠直播the think tank of the food industry and its worldwide network of more than 50,000 alumni includes innovators in every area of the food world. 澳门六合彩搅珠直播has locations in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore.
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1, April 14, 2023