Premier Foods (PFD) has named UK MD Alex Whitehouse as its new CEO and former Reckitt Benckiser (RB) finance chief Colin Day as chairman.
Both appointments are effective today, while CFO and acting CEO for the past six months Alastair Murray has left the business.
Duncan Leggett, currently group director of financial control and corporate development, will become acting CFO as a permanent successor is sought.
Richard Hodgson, Senior Independent Director said: “I am delighted that Colin Day is joining the company as Chairman, a role to which he will bring extensive experience at a pivotal time in the company’s history. We are also very pleased that Alex Whitehouse, who has led the successful turnaround of our UK business, has accepted the role of Group CEO.”
Former chief executive of FTSE 250 industrial group Essentra Colin Day added: “I am very much looking forward to joining Premier Foods at this key juncture as we look to deliver value for Premier Foods’ shareholders. It is the intention to further strengthen the board with the appointment of an additional two independent non-executive directors as soon as possible.”
Alex Whitehouse said: “I’m delighted to become Premier Foods’ CEO and look forward to working with Colin and the board to drive further value from our great portfolio of brands. I’m very encouraged by the improved performance of the business over the last couple of years and see this as something we can build on further.”
The Mr Kipling maker had seen its fromer CEO Gavin Darby leave the business in January after narrowly surving a boardroom vote as axctivist investors sought to push him out.
At the end of May, former chairman Keith Hamill also announced it would leave the business in the midts of a strategic review and merely two years after joining.
In February, the struggling food company announced a review of its business as part of a desperate effort to revive its falling share price.
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