Nestlé has appointed Leanne Geale as executive vice president and general counsel, and she will serve as a member of Nestlé’s executive board, effective Aug. 1. In this role, she will oversee the company’s legal and compliance functions.

Geale joins Nestlé from Royal Dutch Shell, where she currently serves as chief ethics and compliance officer. She joined Shell in 2003 and has held various senior legal leadership roles. Prior to joining Shell, Leanne Geale served as senior counsel for the Royal Bank of Canada and as counsel for Rio Algom and Alcan Aluminum.