Brenda C. Barnes is chairman and chief executive officer of Sara Lee Corporation. She has been a member of the board of directors of Sara Lee Corporation since joining the company as president and chief operating officer in July 2004. She became president and chief executive officer of Sara Lee Corporation in February 2005 and was appointed to her current position in October 2005.

Barnes was president and chief executive officer of PepsiCola North America from 1996 to 1998 and chief operating officer since 1994. During her 22-year career at PepsiCo, Barnes held a number of senior executive positions in operations, general management, sales and marketing. Prior to joining PepsiCola North America, she served at other PepsiCo divisions, including Frito-Lay as vice president, marketing, and Wilson Sporting Goods as business manager. From November 1999 to March 2000, Barnes served as interim president and chief operating officer of Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

Barnes is currently a member of the board of directors of The New York Times Company, Staples, Inc. and the Grocery Manufacturers Association. She recently served as a director of Avon Products, Inc., LucasFilm Ltd., PepsiAmericas, Inc. and Sears, Roebuck & Co. She is a trustee of Augustana College and is a member of the steering committee of the Kellogg Center for Executive Women at Northwestern University. Barnes was an adjunct professor in 2002 at Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and at North Central College. She is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, Economic Club of Chicago, the Executives’ Club of Chicago and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Barnes earned a bachelor of arts degree in economics from Augustana College in 1975 and was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters from Augustana in 1997. She received a master of business administration degree from Loyola University Chicago in 1978.