Brad Alford ’74

A Wildcat Leading on the World Stage

As CEO of food giant Nestlé USA from 2006 to 2012, Brad Alford would meet with political leaders in Washington D.C. to discuss industry and regulatory issues. Leaving the White House after one committee meeting, he encountered a tall man who looked to be his age with graying curly hair and a broad smile.

It was Jeff Immelt, CEO of General Electric Company. Brad and Jeff had grown up together in Finneytown and both graduated in 1974 from the high school. “We both looked at each other, immediately recognized one another and simultaneously said ‘What are you doing here?’ ’’ Brad recalled. “What are the odds of two people from a small, public Midwestern high school randomly running into each other thirty something years after high school at the White House?”

Given the success stories within Finneytown High School (FHS) graduation classes over the decades, it was a perfectly logical encounter. A new inductee to the FHS Hall of Fame, Brad joins a roll call of Wildcat graduates who have made significant contributions to society across different professions.

Now 69 years old, Brad said his years growing up in Finneytown were typical of his schoolmates. “I started at Cottonwood Elementary, then went to Whitaker Elementary, then off to the high school,” said Brad, whose father, Jack Alford, created the Alford Motors, a venerable used car dealership on Vine Street.  “Like so many of us at that time, I went to the different neighborhood public schools in Finneytown from the beginning to the end, and it was a wonderful experience. Then, my business career took me to places all over the world. But when I go back to Finneytown, the memories come pouring back. It is a small and special place, and it feels like home.”

After graduating from FHS as a National Honor Society member, Brad completed undergraduate studies at Miami University, and then earned an MBA from Indiana University. In 1980, he took a marketing job at The Carnation Company (best known for its evaporated milk brand) in southern California, which was acquired in 1985 by Nestlé, the food conglomerate headquartered in Switzerland.

Brad stayed with Nestlé for his entire career, including two leadership assignments in Australia, and moved up the food chain to ultimately head the company’s largest division, Nestlé USA. During his six-year tenure as that division’s CEO, its revenues grew from $7.5 billion to $12.7 billion. Also, during Brad’s years as a company leader, Fortune magazine recognized Nestlé year after year as one of the world’s most admired food companies.

He attributes Nestlé USA’s outstanding reputation to the investments made in the company’s people. He urged Nestlé’s future leaders to think globally and become students of the world. “Don’t sit behind your desk,” he told MBA students during a speaking engagement at IU. “Get out and meet people. Always do what is in the best interest of the group. Be yourself, and perform to win. A successful business culture has to include a winning attitude.”

Brad’s intense focus on employee development during his long tenor at Nestlé correlates to his classroom experiences at FHS. He cites a few high school teachers – including James Powell and David Bean – as strong positive influences. “These teachers were typical of the school’s environment,” he said. “Today, I don’t actually remember much about the classes they taught, but I remember how those two teachers were really invested in us. I got an excellent education in Finneytown because it was a place where the teachers really cared about the kids.”

Given the demands and travel involved in Brad’s career, he was not connected to Finneytown for many years. Recently, that has changed. “Well, there was a little recruitment on the part of Jeff (Immelt) in my getting involved again with the school,” said Brad, who resides in southern California. “Going to my 50th class reunion (in 2024), and seeing all of the guys and girls these many years later was just a blast. My wife commented how we are all such good friends. And it’s true. We were all in a nurturing community together.”

On Saturday, September 27th, we’ll gather at The Grove for the Legacy Celebration to honor Brad and the other 2025 Hall of Fame inductees. It will be an evening filled with inspiring stories, a delicious dinner, a cash bar, and the chance to reconnect with classmates and friends who make Finneytown feel like home.

🎟️ Don’t miss this special night—reserve your spot today!