FSU College of Business selects alumnus Tim Cole for induction into 2012 Hall of Fame

Cole

As an executive at Quaker Oats and now at Del Monte Foods,Tim Cole has a reputation as leader with a clear vision and an uncanny ability to cut through the clutter and laser focus on “needle-moving” activities. He exhibits these same leadership qualities as a member of the Florida State University College of Business Board of Governors.

Cole’s professional achievements and his efforts on behalf of the college have earned him the high regard of his peers and a position in the College of Business 2012 Hall of Fame.  He will be inducted along with two other COB alumni at the March 29 Annual Hall of Fame Dinner and Ceremony at the Florida State Turnbull Conference Center. 

A native of St. Augustine, Fla., and avid Seminoles fan,Cole earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the college in 1979. In addition to serving on the COB board, he is a frequent and welcome classroom guest speaker and highly sought-after mentor of students. “Tim has compelling leadership qualities and an ability to engage people in the vision and mission of the company, to hold them fiercely accountable, and to challenge them to accomplish beyond what they thought possible,” said Ken Willis, FSU classmate,friend for 32 years and former colleague at Quaker Oats, where Cole progressed through marketing and sales position to become vice president for national accounts.

“No productive idea is ever out of bounds with Tim, no business situation beyond turnaround and no leadership team un-salvageable,”Willis said. “Quite the contrary, Tim seems to excel in such circumstances,producing unique strategies, top results and stellar teams that worked hard,but also had fun along the way.”

Between 1979 and 2004, Cole held a variety of positions, including vice president for national accounts, with the Quaker Oats Company. Following a merger with Pepsico, he led one of the first integrated customer teams, comprising Pepsi, Frito-Lay, Quaker and Tropicana, and had sales of $1.5 billion. He then joined Del Monte Foods, where he is executive vice president for sales. Del Monte is one of the country’s largest producers,distributors and marketers of food and pet products in the market. In 2010, the company generated approximately $3.7 billion net sales. Headquartered in San Francisco, Calif., Del Monte Foods includes brands such as Del Monte®, StarKist®, College Inn®, 9Lives®, and Pup-Peroni®.

In addition to his involvement with the FSU College of Business, Cole serves on the boards of Junior Achievement of Northern California and United Way of the Bay Area.