An experienced public company executive, with sophisticated transactional experience, the aptitude for assessing risk, and extensive management and international business experience gained through stints living and working in the UK, Ghana, and China. Broad commercial and boardroom experience covering compliance, regulatory affairs, M&A, corporate finance, intellectual property transfers and corporate governance.
Ms. Ellison, a JD/MBA, is Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Tractor Supply Company, where she also serves as a member of the Executive and Operating Committees and as a trusted advisor to the board and CEO. Tractor Supply Company, a publicly traded retail company with a $27 billion market cap, is the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the U.S. and has more than 47,000 employees. The Company operates 2,002 stores in 49 states and an e-commerce website.
Ms. Ellison leads a department of more than 40 employees, including a team of real estate, merchandising, intellectual property, marketing, labor and employment and litigation attorneys, and risk management, government relations, sustainability, licensing, environmental, quality-assurance and customs compliance professionals. She manages corporate governance, including working closely with the board on various legal and governance matters and in preparing agendas for upcoming meetings. She prepares SEC filings and facilitates insider trading compliance. Ms. Ellison is a member of the Company’s Foundation Board and the Executive Sponsor of the RISE! Team Member Engagement Group. She is also responsible for company-wide environmental, social and governance “ESG” efforts.
Ms. Ellison was previously with Carestream Dental, L.L.C. (2017 – 2021) serving as General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary. A privately held global technology and medical device company based in Georgia, Carestream has offices in 25 countries as well as international manufacturing and distribution operations generating annual sales in excess of $1billion. During her tenure with Carestream, Ms. Ellison managed nine direct reports and over 50 business and legal professionals in Europe, North and South America and Asia. She played a leading role in the carve-out of Carestream Dental from Carestream Health which created an independent company with 45 international legal entities. Ms. Ellison served as Corporate Secretary and trusted adviser to the Board; built the company’s global legal, compliance and corporate governance functions; led compliance investigations and was responsible for legal, compliance, data privacy, including data breach response, intellectual property, security, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, and Environment Health & Safety (EHS) departments worldwide.
Ms. Ellison’s previous legal and business roles include time with W.W. Grainger, Inc. (2015 – 2017) as Associate General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary. While with this Illinois based industrial distribution company, Ms. Ellison led the financing for and acquisition of Cromwell, the largest independent MRO distributor in the UK. She managed corporate governance and regulatory compliance for 140 subsidiaries in 45 countries and advised the finance, treasury, audit, tax, and executive compensation functions. Ms. Ellison also drafted board minutes, resolutions, and memos and prepared and filed SEC filings such as the proxy statement, 10K, 8Ks, 10Qs annually.
Ms. Ellison’s early career experiences round out her understanding of sophisticated commercial transactions, marketing, and intellectual property transfers. They include: Head of Global Music Division & Assistant General Counsel, Turner Broadcasting Systems, Inc. (2004 –2014); Director, Legal Affairs, Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (2001 – 2004); Corporate Associate, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (2000 -2001); and Corporate Finance and Securities Associate, Vinson & Elkins LLP (1997-2000).
Ms. Ellison’s educational accomplishments and honors include a JD/MBA from the University of Chicago in Chicago, IL and Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She is active in her community as a leader on Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation Board, the Rotary Club of Atlanta Foundation Board, and the University of Chicago and Howard University Law School Boards of Visitors. Ms. Ellison’s accomplishments have been acknowledged with recognition from Women Inc., as Top Corporate Counsel, The Legal 500 General Counsel Powerlist, the American Israel Education Foundation Fellowship Program (AIPAC), YWCA, as a Woman of Achievement and the State Bar of Georgia, as a Justice Benham Service to Community Award recipient.