Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF) has named Ellie Doty as the organization’s chief brand officer, reinforcing its leadership team following the recent appointment of Kelli Valade as president and CEO. Together, they bring a broad range of capabilities and a track record of positive impact in the foodservice industry.

Valade has spent her career sparking transformational growth at some of the world’s most recognized foodservice organizations, WFF said, adding that Doty now complements that foundation with “her history of developing iconic consumer brands at scale.” The leadership combination helps WFF apply the discipline of commercial growth and high-impact modernization to drive its nonprofit mission of developing leaders in the foodservice industry, the organization said.

Before her appointment to lead WFF earlier this year, Valade served as CEO of Denny’s Corp., while Doty was chief brand officer at the iconic diner chain.

Known for her strategic foresight, brand stewardship, and innovative thinking, Doty will target growing WFF’s partnerships and membership, reaching new industry segments, and elevating the organization’s offerings.

“Ellie brings a rare combination of brand building, commercial acumen and deep industry knowledge,” Valade said in a statement. “As we expand WFF’s reach and impact, her leadership will be critical in helping us connect across the foodservice industry to develop the next generation of foodservice leaders.”

Boosting career growth and leadership pipeline

With C-suite marketing leadership stints at Denny’s, Chili’s, and YUM! Brands, Doty has built a track record of getting results, creating compelling brand narratives, and building strong stakeholder relationships that help sustain growth and relevance in competitive markets, WFF said. A long-standing WFF member, she said she understands the organization’s unique ability to accelerate career growth while bolstering the industry’s leadership pipeline.

“I haven’t just built a rewarding career in the foodservice industry—I’ve become part of a powerful community,” Doty said. “The opportunity to apply modern brand-building and growth strategies to expand WFF’s impact is both compelling and exciting. WFF helps foodservice professionals broaden their vision of what’s possible and build the capacity to achieve it. I’m honored to join the team and help advance that mission.”

In her new role, Doty will guide and evolve WFF’s professional development offerings, including in-person and live virtual learning, extensive networking opportunities, and on-demand resources engineered to meet members at every stage of their career.

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