Godiva Chocolatier, the global leader in premium chocolate, announced today the appointment of Sharon Leite as its new Managing Director, North America, effective October 2.

Leite joins Godiva with more than 25 years of leadership experience across retail, ecommerce, and real estate management, most recently as president, Sally Beauty North America, where she was responsible for the company's over 3000 retail locations. Prior to this role she held senior roles at Disney, Bath & Body Works, Gap, and Pier 1 imports.

"Sharon is a dynamic leader who is passionate about building the ultimate Chocolate experience," said Annie Young-Scrivner, CEO of Godiva. "She will build a successful Omni-channel business throughout North America. We are proud to have her on our team."

Leite is a seasoned retail leader with experience building great teams, brands, and driving profitable sales growth through operational excellence. She is a highly collaborative leader who is dedicated to building a performance driven culture that is consumer-centric. Passionate about the retail industry, she is a founding member of the Store Operations Council, a worldwide professional organization for store operations executives, and sits on the board of The Retail Analytics Council.

"I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to join the talented Godiva team," said Leite. "Godiva has such a rich heritage and the unique story of being a brand that's both steeped in history and at the forefront of chocolate innovation. I look forward to delighting our loyal customers with exceptional chocolate experiences and enticing new customers to make meaningful connections with Godiva as we build our brand in North America and around the world."

Leite was educated at Loyola University, Kent State University and Delgado College and is currently pursuing an MBA through the Jack Welch Leadership Institute. She will be based in Godiva's New Yorkoffice.

About Godiva

For the past ninety-one years, Godiva has led the premium chocolate category through its pioneering innovation and impressive culinary artistry, with a heritage rooted in its founding family's skilled craftsmanship and passion for chocolate.