Sara Lee Announces New General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for 'Meatco'

Before joining the firm, Magill was executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Hostess Brands, Inc., one of the nation’s largest wholesale bakers and distributors of fresh-baked bread and sweet goods.

4 June 2012 --- Sara Lee Corp. announced that Kent Magill, 59, will become general counsel and corporate secretary of “MeatCo” (Sara Lee’s North American Retail and Foodservice business) after the spin-off of its International Coffee and Tea business on June 28, 2012. Magill will have responsibility for the company’s legal activities as well as global business practices.  He will join Sara Lee on June 4, 2012, as senior vice president, general counsel, North America Retail and Foodservice, and will lead the North American business’ legal function.  Magill will report to Sean Connolly, chief executive officer, Sara Lee North American Retail and Foodservice.

“Kent is a welcome addition to our team,” said Connolly.  “I look forward to leveraging his broad experience and legal acumen as we continue to prepare for post-spin-off operation as an independent food company.”

Most recently, Magill was in private practice with Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP, a firm based in Kansas City.  Before joining the firm, Magill was executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Hostess Brands, Inc., one of the nation’s largest wholesale bakers and distributors of fresh-baked bread and sweet goods.

Prior to his work at Hostess, he was vice president, general counsel and secretary at Layne Christensen Company.  His responsibilities included board governance, securities law compliance and domestic and international acquisitions.  Before that, Magill spent 12 years at The Marley Company, his most recent role being vice president, associate general counsel, where his primary responsibilities included litigation, general corporate and acquisitions.  He began his law career in a large general practice law firm.

Magill received his bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and his juris doctor from the University of Iowa.  He also completed an executive business program at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.