Ehrmann Cornish Dairy has announced the appointment of Ed Watts as its chief executive officer.
Watts will lead the delivery of Ehrmann Cornish Dairy’s long-term turnaround and development plan, overseeing continued investment in production, innovation and operational efficiency, the business said.
He has been promoted from the role of chief commercial officer where he played a key role in strengthening customer relationships, driving innovation and supporting the integration of Cornish Dairy Co into the wider Ehrmann business.
The business said his promotion came at a “defining moment” as Ehrmann enters the next phase of its long-term UK strategy.
Watts brings more than 20 years of experience to the role including at Johnson & Johnson, Reckitt and Mars. Before moving to Ehrmann, he most recently served as UK commercial director at JDE Peet’s, where he led the commercial strategy.
“This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to lead a business with such strong foundations, exceptional people and genuine ambition,” said Watts. “We’ve already made significant progress in stabilising the business, investing in our operations and building long-term partnerships with customers and farmers, and now we’re focused on accelerating that momentum.”
The Cornish Dairy Co has returned to profitable trading and is now focused on accelerating sustainable growth, establishing the Ehrmann brand in the UK, expanding manufacturing capability and strengthening its position across branded and own-label dairy, it said.
The business is also currently investing in a state-of-the-art desserts facility, due for completion by the end of 2026, alongside a programme of efficiency projects expected to deliver significant cost savings by early 2027.
“My vision is for Ehrmann Cornish Dairy to become recognised as one of the top three dairy companies in the UK,” Watts added. “We have the scale, expertise and investment behind us to achieve that, and by continuing to innovate, investing in our manufacturing capabilities and delivering outstanding products for both branded and own-label customers, I’m confident we can establish ourselves as one of the defining businesses in the UK dairy sector.”
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