Dutch drinks manufacturer Refresco has hired Nestlé veteran Steve Presley as its new chief executive.
Presley will succeed Hans Roelofs, who announced his decision to step down after an 18-year tenure last month.
He joins the private equity-backed Refresco after a distinguished 28-year stint at Nestlé, culminating in him being named CEO of its Americas operating unit in January.
In this role, Presley “managed over 100,000 employees across 24 countries and a network of over 120 manufacturing and distribution facilities across 20 product categories”, Refresco said.
“Steve’s wealth of experience, strong relationships with retailers and brands, and leadership of large-scale international operations for a global beverage and food company will be tremendous assets,” said James Cunningham, chairman of the Refresco supervisory board and partner at Refresco owner KKR.
Presley’s “entrepreneurial spirit”, “financial expertise” and “ability to understand our customers’ needs” would help Refresco deliver “best-in-class beverage solutions around the world”, Cunningham added.
On his appointment, Presley added: “Refresco has built a strong reputation as a global leader in the beverage solutions industry, with a clear focus on delivering value and quality for its customers. I look forward to building on this solid foundation and contributing to the next phase of growth.
“By focusing on innovation and adapting to the evolving needs of customers and market demands, I am confident we can further strengthen Refresco’s value proposition and create new opportunities for success.”
Refresco produces a slew of branded and own-label soft drinks, fruit juices and other beverages from its 70-plus manufacturing sites across Europe, Australia, the US, Canada and Mexico.
In 2024, it generated revenues of €5.99bn, an increase of 1% on the year prior. Volumes sold, meanwhile, declined from 14.25 billion litres in 2023 to 13.83 billion litres.
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