News
Samworth Brothers names new CEO after incumbent steps down
Wookey will take on the role of CEO from 1 July 2024 after a transition period, stepping up from his current position as chief commercial officer at the Leicestershire-based food manufacturer.
The announcement comes in response to current boss Hugo Maloney stepping down in order to pursue other opportunities.
With 35 years of experience in the food industry, Wookey joined Samworth Brothers as a group executive board director in January 2019.
Prior to arriving at Samworth Brothers, he worked for 20 years at Greencore where he held a variety of senior commercial and managing director positions. On leaving Greencore, Wookey joined Maple Leaf Foods in Toronto, Canada, as president of its prepared food business for four years before returning to the UK in 2012, following which he held several senior positions at 2 Sisters group including managing director of its convenience business.
Commenting on the departure of Maloney, the firm’s chair Mark Samworth said: “Under Hugo’s leadership the business continued its recovery from Covid and its aftermath and rose to the challenge of successfully managing and mitigating significant inflationary pressures.
“With the Executive team, he has re-set our business strategy and has refined our operating model and ways of working to help us better act as one Samworth Brothers with our customers and suppliers. Samworth Brothers is well positioned for the future, and in the years to come the business will benefit from his development of our modernisation programme. Hugo has made a significant contribution to the performance of our business, and we wish him every success in the future.”
Samworth Brothers owns brands including Ginsters, Soreen and Higgidy, while it completed the acquisition of The Real Wrap Co in April.
In other news, the US Government has urged the EU to delay the implementation of new regulations that will ban the import of commodities linked to deforestation.
