david milner tyrrells

Milner is set to replace current CEO and founder Henrietta Morrison, who will become executive chair and global brand director

Former Tyrrells boss David Milner has been appointed CEO of Lily’s Kitchen.

Milner has been non-executive director at the petfood supplier for the last four years and will become CEO from 2 October. He is set to replace current CEO and founder Henrietta Morrison. Morrison is taking up the new role of executive chair and global brand director.

Milner was CEO of Tyrrells for six years before it was sold to Amplify Snack Brands in 2016, at which time he became Amplify’s international president. He then took on the additional role of CEO UK and Europe in April 2017. However he then left the company a month later as part of a further management shakeup along with senior vice-president of global operations Stuart Telford.

Lily’s Kitchen said Milner will bring his “wealth of experience of challenger brand growth” to the CEO role.

“I’m excited by my new role and delighted to have David Milner lead the team as we continue to drive growth and innovation at Lily’s Kitchen,” said Morrison. “We work very well together and I’m thrilled we can build an even stronger partnership with him joining the business full time as CEO.”

Milner added: “Brands of the calibre and resonance of Lily’s Kitchen are rare, and I have been fortunate to be part of the business in a non-executive capacity over the past four years. I am very much looking forward to leading the business through the next phase of its growth.”

Morrison started the brand ten years ago following the illness of her border terrier, Lily. Lily’s Kitchen currently makes over £1m sales a week.