(NewsVisual, powered by IntellectSpace )-- Sara Lee Corp (NYSE: SLE) could be seeing some major growth in 2008 as CEO Brenda Barnes announced that the food company is ready for takeovers.

Barnes became Sara Lee’s CEO in 2005 and has since helped the company shed some of its businesses to tighten operations. Yesterday at a food-industry conference, Barnes announced to analysts that the company has reached the point where it can start pursuing acquisitions, though she didn’t specifically name any potential targets.

NewsVisual created an IntellectSpace Knowledge Map of Barnes’ corporate connections and links to non-corporate entities. Her vast experience and diverse network as illustrated on the Knowledge Map sheds some light into why Barnes’ has been doing so well in leading Sara Lee since taking on the CEO role.

As this Knowledge Map clearly shows, Barnes has multiple ties to many different types of entities and industries. She has been a Senior Executive with Sara Lee since 2004, and prior to that was the President/CEO of PepsiCola North America. With more than two decades of senior management experience at PepsiCo, it’s hardly surprising that Barnes has been able to guide such a quick turnaround at Sara Lee.

Barnes also has notable leadership experience that goes beyond the food industry. She was previously the interim President and Chief Operating Officer at Starwood Hotels & Resorts and has served as a Director at multiple companies that include The New York Times Company, LucasFilm Ltd, Avon, Sears and Staples.

With impressive connections and years of executive experience, it is likely that Barnes will continue to lead Sara Lee in this next phase of businesses development as successfully as she has done thus far. Now with the goal of increased growth through strategic acquisitions, Sara Lee’s performance expectations will understandably be on the rise.

Click here or copy this link into your Internet Explorer browser for an interactive version of this IntellectSpace Knowledge Map