2 Sisters Food Group has seconded its group business development director Mel Bugler to the role of managing director for its branded Fox’s biscuits division.

He will work on a handover period with incumbent divisional head Graham Hunter, who is joining Premier Foods in early 2012 as MD of its £1bn grocery business.

Bugler has more than 30 years’ experience in sales, commercial and marketing roles for fmcg companies including Kerry Foods, Cadbury’s, Kraft, Häagen- Dazs and Burton’s Foods.

2 Sisters has also made a number of executive and non-executive hires to strengthen its board.

Steve Henderson,currently acting group finance director, has assumed the role permanently.

He spent more than 16 years with Northern Foods in a variety of finance roles and built up extensive debt funding, M&A and pensions experience.

Andrew Cripps has been appointed to the board as a non-executive director and chair of the audit committee. He is currently deputy chairman of Swedish Match AB and a non-executive director and chair of the audit committee of Booker Group. He brings experience of consumer goods from roles in corporate strategy, finance and M&A, as well as nonexecutive and audit chair credentials from a number of internationally listed companies.

“I am delighted that Steve and Andrew will be working with us as we grow our business. Their experience will be integral to delivering our vision to grow to £3bn of sales,” said 2 Sisters Food Group CEO Ranjit Singh.

Last week, The Grocer revealed that 2 Sisters has been looking for a buyer for Holland’s Pies – the first potential branded disposal from Boparan following his acquisition of the Northern Foods business this year.

However, it has struggled to find someone prepared to stump up the £25m-£30m it is looking for.