Former md of Müller Dairy UK and recently responsible for international activities for the Müller Group Ken Wood has resigned to join the Weetabix Group. He will become chief executive officer in September, replacing Sir Richard George who will remain as non-executive chairman. Wood has been the driving force behind the development of the Müller brand in the UK over the past 18 years. Commenting on his departure, chief executive officer of the Müller Group Thomas Hinderer said: "Though we shall be very sorry to lose him, we wish Ken every success in his new company."
Tracey Lyall has joined poultry specialist Challenger Foods to work with Tina Carlisle in sales co-ordination and customer service, along with logistics manager Richie Gill. The company has also taken on five new employees under Challenger's own scheme to find employment for local people with disabilities. Recruited through Remploy and Workline, all five staff members have quickly become valued members of the team.
There have been a number of changes to the management structure of Westbury Dairy, now run as a joint venture by dairy co-operatives Dairy Farmers of Britain, First Milk and Milk Link. Md Steve Satherley left on May 4. His departure follows that of finance director Rod Goss back in April. Operations manager Grant McKinlay, has taken on the responsibility of running the plant until a new general manager is appointed. Each co-operative is represented on the main board and Chris Tory has been elected chairman by the producer liaison group.
ADM Cocoa has promoted Kevin Powell from technical sales manager to the newly created position of technical and food safety manager at its UK production plant in Hull.
James Mayer has joined Jacob's as UK sales director tasked with growing sales in the UK and driving Jacob's customer insights strategy, heading a team of 55.
A new centralised technical structure at Greencore Group will be headed by current technical director of its chilled foods division Helen Sisson. As group technical director, Sisson will provide customers with senior level co-ordination of technical matters relating to the group's chilled, ambient and frozen foods businesses. She will also take overall responsibility for group-wide co-ordination of health, safety and environmental issues.
"This new role will ensure we maintain consistent standards and a common approach to all technical matters across the group relating to convenience foods," said Greencore's chief operating officer Tony Hynes.