Nomad Foods CMO Steve Challouma is to leave the business this week, following a 30-year stint with Birds Eye.
Challouma joined Unilever’s graduate scheme in 1996, when it owned the Birds Eye brand. Over the next decade, he rose through the ranks to become European brand platform manager Unilever’s frozen food business.
Challouma stayed on at Birds Eye – as general marketing manager, then as European category director for fish and new occasions – after Unilever sold its European frozen food business to private equity firm Permira in 2006.
Challoouma was general manager for Iglo Group’s central categories when the entire operation was sold to Nomad Holdings in 2015. He then stepped into the roles of marketing director and UK&I GM before being named CMO in 2023.
“It is with an immense sense of gratitude that I am leaving Nomad Foods this week,” Challouma wrote in a LinkedIn post.
“After a career spanning almost three decades and three different ownership phases at the business, it is time to sail into new oceans.
“For now, I’m looking forward to a Christmas break – and then, in 2026, the voyage continues. New horizons await, and I can’t wait to discover them!”
Nomad Foods is yet to announce Challouma’s replacement, but has confirmed the recruitment process is underway.
In the meantime, chief RDQ officer Carly Arnold has expanded her responsibilities as acting CMO.
“We would like to thank Steve for his outstanding contribution and wish him every success in the future,” said a spokesman for Nomad Foods.
Nomad’s CEO Stéfan Descheemaeker and UK & Ireland GM Shaun Smith are both also due to leave the business at the end of 2025.
Dominic Brisby will replace Descheemaeker, who is retiring. Nomad Foods is yet to announce Smith’s successor.
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