RONA TISON
Exec. Vice President-Corporate Relations & PR
ITO EN (North America) INC.           

A tea industry connoisseur with a refined approach to the U.S. Japanese culture and innovative marketing, Rona Tison currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Corporate Relations & PR at ITO EN (North America) INC., global leaders of green tea and innovators of healthy beverages to include award-winning brands -Japan’s #1 green tea, Oi Ocha, TEAS’ TEA & Matcha LOVE.

Tison is responsible for maintaining and developing the company’s corporate image through branding, public relations and promotional events. She is well-versed in the Japanese culture and traditions being half-Japanese, helping launch ITO EN’s first international presence in the United States. With extensive experience in the food & beverage industry, hospitality and retail, she serves on the Tea & Health Committee of the U.S. Tea Association and the Advisory Board of the World Tea Expo. Her tea industry prowess has led her to speak at the World Tea Expo, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Northwest Tea Festivals, Shizuoka World Tea Festival and James Beard House and Smithsonian Lecture Series.

She was the first woman to receive the prestigious John Harney Lifetime Achievement Award 2017 for her educational contributions to the tea industry.

Ito En was recognized by FORTUNE as one of “50 Companies Changing the World” for its sustainable farming & business practices to include its award-winning innovation of recycling used tea leaves to create eco-products.

Tison has held multiple leadership role prior to joining ITO EN, including Director of Operations for W Hotels, Executive Vice President at Felissimo and Rooms Division Manager at Le Parker Meridien. Tison graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and resides in New York City.