Page 68 - Food & Drink Business Nov-Dec 2019

YEAR IN REVIEW
On the move
There were many changes at the top of Australia and New Zealand’s leading food and beverage companies in 2019. Here are some of the highlights.
ANDREW LEAKEY
NEW GM FOR MARS WRIGLEY AUSTRALIA
ANDREW Leakey will lead as Mars Wrigley’s new general manager from its Melbourne headquarters, with responsibility for its manufacturing facilities in Asquith (NSW) and Ballarat (VIC).
Andrew has worked for the company since 2008 in a number of senior leadership roles across Asia and the Pacific. Most recently he was GM for India. He oversaw double digit growth during his tenure and the opening of the first local Mars chocolate factory in Pune near Mumbai.
Prior to that, he was GM of Wrigley Pacific from 2011-2016 leading the Australian,
New Zealand and Pacific Islands operations.
He joined Wrigley Pacific as marketing director, where he launched the award-winning Extra “Eat. Drink. Chew” campaign.
He brings over two decades of experience in the FMCG industry, having held both sales and marketing roles at Arnott’s, Cerebos Greggs, Mars and GlaxoSmithKline.
Leakey said: “It’s great to be back in Australia, leading a business with a strong legacy of market leading brands, great associates, strong customers and passionate consumers.
“For over 100 years, Mars has remained committed to local manufacturing in Australia and this year we’re looking forward to celebrating the 40th anniversary of our Ballarat site with our customers and consumers.”
RACE STRAUSS
NEW CFO FOR
A2 MILK COMPANY
THE a2 Milk Company has announced Race Strauss as its new chief financial officer. Current CFO Craig Louttit will step back from the role to spend more time with his young family. He will stay with the company as deputy CFO.
MD and CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said: “Craig has been an outstanding member of our senior leadership team for many years and has been instrumental in the company achieving the results it has over recent years. Craig has been such a strong support for me, and I am very pleased that we have been able to solve for Craig’s personal priorities while keeping him in a senior position in the business.”
Strauss will join the company in the second half of FY20. He has been the CFO for Qantas Airlines. He has also spent 20 years with Unilever in a number of “relevant and senior” roles including, “Unilever’s ice cream business in China, senior finance and strategy roles in SE Asia and Australasia and Unilever’s Global Mergers and Acquisition team based in the UK. Race also played a pivotal role during the high growth transformation at Jetstar, where he held the position of CFO for five years,” a2 said.
SIMON LAROCHE
NEW CEO FOR
KRAFT HEINZ AUSTRALIA
KRAFT Heinz Australia’s new CEO Simon Laroche says his immediate focus is on accelerating the company’s growth path through brand investment and innovation.
Laroche was vice president of sales with Canada’s Labatt Breweries before accepting the Kraft Heinz role.
Laroche says new product development
for Kraft Heinz Australia is focused on emerging food trends. “[F]rom the growing demand for plant-based products and multisensory food experiences to snacks that support healthy lifestyles, we have a number of exciting new products in the pipeline,” Laroche says.
Kraft and Heinz merged in 2015. In 2018, it acquired Cerebos and added Gravox, Fountain and SAXA to its stable.
FRASER WHINERAY
FONTERRA EXPANDS TEAM WITH NEW COO
FONTERRA will expand its management team in early 2020, appointing former CEO of energy company Mecury NZ Fraser Whineray to the newly created role of COO.
Whineray started his career as a graduate of the New Zealand Diary Board’s technical training program, as well as working at Puhoi Valley Cheese, and
holding a post graduate diploma in dairy science and technology.
“I am pleased to be able to continue in a role which contributes to
New Zealand, and has strong, genuine relationships with many regional communities, Maori land trusts and local iwi across the country,” he said.
GREG ELLERY
NEW METRO FOOD CO CHAIR
FORMER Asahi Premium Beverages CEO Greg Ellery has been appointed chair of Metro Food Co. He has held executive roles with Polaroid Corporation, Fosters Group and New Balance Athletics. In April, Ellery was appointed to the Board of hemp and cannabis group Elixinol Global.
Ellery said: “Metro Food Co has been on
an amazing growth journey since its
launch less than two years ago. It is clear consumers are placing greater emphasis on healthy lifestyles and eating well, and Metro Food is well-positioned to capitalise on that trend with its range of nutritious Keep It Cleaner products.”
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