Nestle named Takeda Pharmaceutical’s François-Xavier Roger to be its chief financial officer, as the world’s biggest food company looks for senior leadership with experience outside of its industry.
Roger, a French national, will take over as CFO 1 July, the Switzerland-based company said in a statement Tuesday.
Roger previously held the same role at yogurt maker Danone’s Asian business and before that, ran the finance department at Millicom International Cellular SA. Nestle also named Madgi Batato as operations chief, replacing Jose Lopez, who’s retiring in September after 36 years at the company.
The appointment reflects Nestle’s shift from traditional packaged food into more health-related businesses, evidenced by the creation of a skincare unit last year.
It also comes as Nestle tries to revive growth in its US frozen food unit and grapples with a crisis in India amid a recall of its Maggi instant noodles. Chief Executive Officer Paul Bulcke had assumed a double role after Wan Ling Martello, who was previously head of finance, took over Nestle’s struggling Asia, Oceania and Africa region last month.
“His extensive insight, knowledge and experience in different geographies and industries, in particular in food, nutrition and pharma, will allow him to quickly contribute to driving the performance of Nestle,” Bulcke said in the statement.
News by Bloomberg, edited by ESM
