Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> February 24, 2003
Thomas S. Haggai is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IGA,
INC. Mr. Haggai, the first non-wholesale food company executive
elected to the IGA Board, has been instrumental in expanding the
international scope of the IGA system. He has served as Chairman
for a quarter of a century and CEO the last 15 years. Mr. Haggai
has enjoyed a multifaceted career, and public speaking, which he
began at age 12, has played a major role in all of his
achievements. From 1975-1977, at a time when Time magazine cited
the deficiencies within the Boy Scouts of America, Mr. Haggai was
called upon to step in as Director of Personnel to restructure,
the largest youth agency in the free world. He also served as an
advisor to Colonel Frank Borman at Eastern Air Lines. In
addition, he has served on numerous corporate Boards and is a
lifetime trustee at High Point University and a former member of
the Advisory Board at Furman University. For more than 50 years,
Mr. Haggai has hosted a daily national radio program that is now
called 'One Minute, Please.' The author of several books,
including How The Best Is Won and Today, Mr. Haggai is also a
regular contributor to various magazines, including his monthly
column for the IGA GROCERGRAM. Mr. Haggai has received many
honors, among them honorary degrees from a number of colleges and
universities. In 2001 he was the recipient of the 'Norman Vincent
Peale' award of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished
Americans and he was presented the first 'Thomas S. Haggai' Award
established by IGA to honor those individuals exemplifying
character, leadership and community service. He founded the THA
Foundation in 1963 with 250 outstanding national business and
professional leaders as Associates. The foundation awards
generous college scholarships to non-traditional students
returning to school to obtain certification as elementary school
teachers. Profile
PAULO GOELZER is President of the IGA Institute, an educational
foundation providing training in 40 countries in five languages.
He joined IGA in 1996, with his attention focused on
international growth and the development of marketing programs.
Mr. Goelzer began his career in the food industry very early,
working in a family food business. Other related positions
include senior consultant for Strategy and Food Package Goods
Industry Practice for a German/Brazilian consulting company,
researcher and consultant for the Brazilian Wholesaler
Association (ABAD), and Marketing Director for a grocery
wholesale company. Mr. Goelzer was formerly the International
Editor for the Brazilian trade journal, Distribui'o,
contributing numerous articles on marketing and logistics, and is
co-author of the textbook Distribui'o de Classe Mundial. Prior
to his work as an editor, Mr. Goelzer was an Assistant Professor
of Business Strategy and Marketing for one of Brazil's most
renowned universities, Pontifical University Catholic. During his
time at the university, Mr. Goelzer received the 'Honored
Professor' Award twice, in 1989 and 1990. He has earned two
Master's degrees, an MS in Marketing and an MA in Economics, as
well as a BS in Business. He is currently a PhD candidate at
Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois. Among other
organizations, Mr. Goelzer is a member of the Coca Cola Research
Council Latin America and of the Marketing Committee of CIES in
France. Profile
picture of things as they are now?
Dr. Haggai: IGA was started 77 years ago in 1926. Our founder was
J. Frank Grimes who came
