Hey There, It's Amanda

Introducing Our New CEO

Let’s give her a warm, Food52-community-style welcome.

by:
April 18, 2024
3 Comments
Erika Ayers Badan on kitchen countertop, with Dansk pots in background.
Photo by Caroline Tompkins

Dear Food52 Community,

Today is a Big Day at Food52. We have news, friends.
Photo by Food52

Watch the TLDR version here.

But read on, as well, because I’m incredibly excited to introduce you to Erika Ayers Badan, our new CEO. Erika has been an advisor, board member, and friend of the company for the past 5 years, and we couldn’t be luckier to have her going all-in as our CEO, running Food52, Schoolhouse, and Dansk and finding ways to better serve all of you. Erika has spent her career growing great companies, most recently as Barstool Sports’s CEO. She’s led large content teams, developed talent into stars, built passionate communities, and inspired millions of followers.

Photo by Erika Ayers Badan
Photo by Erika Ayers Badan
Photo by Caroline Tompkins

Erika, as you will soon see, is a force of nature. She plays ice hockey and field hockey. During the pandemic, she got thousands of women running 2+ miles a day. If you haven’t seen her daily “1:1 with Erika” Instagram videos on career tips or listened to her podcast, Token CEO, check them out! Then pre-order her book, Nobody Cares About Your Career, which comes out this June. Erika was on the Board of Torchy’s Tacos, one of my favorite places in Austin. She’s also a cat lady, so she’ll fit right into the Food52 community.

Join The Conversation

Top Comment:
“Was she the CEO of barstool when the founder was credibly accused of SA or when he was starting a union busting effort against the writers? Did she do anything to protect independent pizza shop owners, who would rather not be associated with such a person? Maybe she is the best person for the job but this social media push about her experience at barstool is tone deaf at best. ”
— Pizza
Comment

Erika is going to infuse Food52, Schoolhouse, and Dansk with her unstoppable energy, and we’re going to turn her into a great cook with an even more stylish home, starting with our Teig Lamp.

Photo by Amanda Hesser

You’ll be getting dispatches from Erika on the regular, and she’s really looking forward to hearing from you. Please give her a warm, Food52-community-style welcome—[email protected]!

Amanda

P.S. Did I mention that she’s the daughter of a quilter and a crafter?

Photo by Erika's Mother
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Amanda Hesser

Written by: Amanda Hesser

Before starting Food52 with Merrill, I was a food writer and editor at the New York Times. I've written several books, including "Cooking for Mr. Latte" and "The Essential New York Times Cookbook." I played myself in "Julie & Julia" -- hope you didn't blink, or you may have missed the scene! I live in Brooklyn with my husband, Tad, and twins, Walker and Addison.

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3 Comments

Rhonda35
Rhonda35 April 22, 2024
Welcome to Food52, Erika!
 
Rhonda35
Rhonda35 April 22, 2024
PS - We LOVE Torchy's Tacos here in Denver!
 
Pizza
Pizza April 19, 2024
Was she the CEO of barstool when the founder was credibly accused of SA or when he was starting a union busting effort against the writers? Did she do anything to protect independent pizza shop owners, who would rather not be associated with such a person? Maybe she is the best person for the job but this social media push about her experience at barstool is tone deaf at best.