Paulette R. Dodson

Biography

Ms. Paulette R. Dodson has been the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of PetSmart, Inc. since July 2012. Ms. Dodson served as a Corporate Secretary of Hillshire Brands Company (a/k/a Sara Lee Corp.) and its Senior Vice President and General Counsel since March 2011. She served as Interim General Counsel of Sara Lee Corp. from December 2010 to March 2011. She served as Chief Counsel of Sara Lee Corporation’s North America Operations. In her role, she was the lead legal advisor and strategist to the North America business heads and led a team of lawyers who are tasked with providing broad-based legal support. Ms. Dodson joined Sara Lee Corporation in January 2007 after fourteen years with Tribune Company, where she served as Assistant General Counsel of publishing from 2000 to 2007, responsible for managing legal affairs for the operating units of the publishing business across the United States. She served as counsel for publishing from 1992 to 2000. In addition, she served as general counsel to the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine and the Daily Press in Virginia. Ms. Dodson serves as the Chairman of Sara Lee Corp. Minority Forum. She serves on the board of directors for the Chicago Bar Foundation as secretary and the Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from City College of New York and a Law Degree from Cornell Law School. Ms. Paulette R. Dodson has been the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of PetSmart, Inc. since July 2012. Ms. Dodson served as a Corporate Secretary of Hillshire Brands Company (a/k/a Sara Lee Corp.) and its Senior Vice President and General Counsel since March 2011. She served as Interim General Counsel of Sara Lee Corp. from December 2010 to March 2011. She served as Chief Counsel of Sara Lee Corporation’s North America Operations. In her role, she was the lead legal advisor and strategist to the North America business heads and led a team of lawyers who are tasked with providing broad-based legal support. Ms. Dodson joined Sara Lee Corporation in January 2007 after fourteen years with Tribune Company, where she served as Assistant General Counsel of publishing from 2000 to 2007, responsible for managing legal affairs for the operating units of the publishing business across the United States. She served as counsel for publishing from 1992 to 2000. In addition, she served as general counsel to the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine and the Daily Press in Virginia. Ms. Dodson serves as the Chairman of Sara Lee Corp. Minority Forum. She serves on the board of directors for the Chicago Bar Foundation as secretary and the Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from City College of New York and a Law Degree from Cornell Law School.

Research Interest

Business