Prepared foods manufacturer Bakkavor has named Ben Waldron as its new chief financial officer and an executive director of its board, effective 27 December 2020.
Waldron is an experienced professional who joined Bakkavor as its group financial controller in 2011 and went on to become the head of strategic development.
He was instrumental in supporting the group’s IPO process in 2017, leading the acquisition of Haydens Bakery, and the disposal of non-core businesses in the UK and Europe.
In January 2019, he took up the position of the president of Bakkavor USA and successfully transformed its US operations.
An 'Outstanding Candidate'
Commenting on the appointment, Simon Burke, board chair of Bakkavor, said, “Ben was the outstanding candidate in what was a broadly-based search, and his very successful term at our US business means he will bring strong operational insight to the role.”
Waldron succeeds current chief financial officer and executive director Peter Gates, who has decided to retire.
He is to step down from the position and the board on 26 December 2020.
Gates joined the company as an interim group treasurer and was appointed as the chief financial officer in November 2010.
During his tenure, he supported the transition of the company from a private group to a public company, simplified its ownership structure and strengthened its financial position.
He was also responsible for refocusing the international expansion to concentrate on the US and China, overseeing acquisitions and disposals, and leading the company’s IPO process.
Bakkavor group chief executive, Agust Gudmundsson, thanked Gates for his service and said, “During his 10 years with the Group, he has played a major part in our development, growth and success and has supported me immensely in creating the business that we are today."
Other Changes
Elsewhere, Pete Laport has replaced Waldron as the president of Bakkavor USA.
Laport, who joined the company on 19 October, brings a wealth of experience from the food industry.
He has held various managerial, operational and commercial roles at PepsiCo and Nestlé and led the global supply chain for Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins ice cream and freshly prepared salad producer Ready Pac.
Most recently, he served as the global chief supply chain and manufacturing officer of Revlon.
The company has also announced that it has appointed Mike Edward, the chief operating officer of its UK division, to its board as an executive director.
© 2020 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
