Middleby Names New Vice President of Business Development

The Middleby Corp. has hired Katie Cox to serve as vice president of business development. In this role, she will be responsible for large Middleby chain accounts, while working on new business development.

Before joining the Elgin, Ill.-based manufacturer of foodservice equipment, she held several senior sales positions within the industry working with customers, dealers and manufacturer’s reps. Before pursuing foodservice equipment sales, Cox was the manager of engineering innovation at Yum! Brands’ Pizza Hut.

“Katie has a track record of success in every position she’s ever held. She is well-established in the industry and has built long-standing customer relationships during her career,” says Steve Spittle, Middleby’s chief commercial officer, in a press release. “As our customers explore updated solutions to best fit their new business environment, Katie’s deep experience will be an asset. She has a deep knowledge base and passion for our industry, coupled with a background in both business and engineering, which has been beneficial in working through strategic initiatives with top chain executives.”

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri and received a Master of Business Administration degree from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas.

Cox will be based in Dallas, while her customer relationships will be nationwide.