Two new execs named in one day? Now that is something to celebrate. The Impossible Foods team is certainly doing so, as the company has named Leilani Gayles as Chief People Officer and David Borecky as Chief Financial Officer. These talented leaders will spur Impossible’s growth with expertise in both human resources and finance.
“This is an organization that's united around a shared mission and isn't afraid to take big risks in the name of innovation,” Gayles said. “Because of that, I look forward to continuing the innovation in how our people work, live, and develop in their careers.”
Gayles will oversee people operations, including talent acquisition, compensation and rewards, talent and leadership development, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and strategic people initiatives, a press release stated. She joins Impossible after a decade at the San Francisco Giants, where she served as Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer, responsible for leading talent management, staffing, employee relations, compensation, and performance management.
Prior to her role with the Giants, Gayles worked in the human resources field in various environments, ranging from hyper-growth start-ups to large technology companies. She has focused her career on helping organizations achieve scale while creating a highly engaging and productive workplace where employees can do the best work of their careers.
In addition to this appointment, Impossible Foods’ former Finance Leader and interim Chief Financial Officer, Borecky, has now been promoted.
“Meeting the unprecedented demand for Impossible™ products while continuing to invest in R&D and technology is what fuels our long-term growth,” Borecky said. “As CFO, my goal is to build an efficient, data-driven, and scalable finance operation that delivers on the promise of our mission for consumers, investors, and the planet.”
Borecky, who originally joined the company as Chief Accounting Officer, has led the accounting, tax, and financial operations of the organization for more than two years, during which time Impossible Foods secured a total of $700 million in new funding. Before that, he served as the Controller at Stripe and held senior management positions in finance and corporate development at Square, where he played a key role in Square’s successful IPO, among his many other responsibilities.
“Leilani and David are extraordinary leaders who share our vision of turning back the clock on climate change by transforming the global food system,” said Chief Executive Officer and Founder Dr. Patrick O. Brown.
Gayles holds a bachelor’s degree and a master's degree in organizational behavior from the University of San Francisco. She is a senior fellow serving the Silicon Valley chapter of the American Leadership Forum, a network of regional leaders committed to serving the common good.
Borecky holds an honors degree in business from Wilfrid Laurier University, where he still serves on the Dean’s Advisory Committee, and a master's degree from the Schulich School of Business at York University. He is a Canadian Chartered Accountant and a U.S. Certified Public Accountant. He also serves as an audit chair and board member at agriculture biotechnology startup MustGrow Biologics.
The press release teased that these appointments are poised to spur significant growth for the company, so stay tuned as further news comes to light.
