The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has announced today that its Chief Executive, Kate Carnell, is to leave the industry group at the end of March 2012. Ms Carnell has accepted the position of CEO at Beyond Blue, an Australian non-profit organisation which aims to increase awareness and improve the treatment of depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders and related mental disorders. Prior to Ms Carnell’s departure at the end of March, the AFGC Board will be evaluating potential... ...Read more »

New Zealand dairy group Fonterra has appointed former Friesland Foods executive Theo Spierings as its CEO.The dairy co-operative said today (14 July) that Spierings would replace departing CEO Andrew Ferrier from 26 September. Ferrier announced plans to resign last March. Fonterra chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden said Spierings would bring 25 years of knowledge of the global dairy industry to the company. “Spierings has a wealth of experience in managing dairy businesses across Asia, Latin... ...Read more »

Campbell Soup Co. has appointed former Coca-Cola Co. executive Gareth Edgecombe to the role of president of its operations in Asia-Pacific.Edgecombe will be responsible for the company’s Australian, Asian and Pacific operations, including the Arnott’s biscuits brand and Campbell’s soup. He will be based at Campbell Arnott’s regional headquarters in Sydney and will report to Mark Alexander, president of Campbell International. His appointment is effective from 8 August. Edgecombe... ...Read more »

US food group Cargill has announced a shake-up of its senior management, naming current CFO David MacLennan into the new role of president and chief operating officer.The company’s chairman and CEO, Greg Page, said yesterday that the moves would better position the company for growth, “particularly in the world’s fastest growing economies”. Additionally, Sergio Rial has been promoted from senior vice president and regional director for Latin America to executive vice president... ...Read more »

The president of Campbell Soup Co.’s operations in Asia-Pacific is to join Goodman Fielder as the Australian food maker’s chief executive.Chris Delaney will take the top job at Goodman Fielder next month, replacing Peter Margin, who quit in January. Delaney joined Campbell in 2004 as vice president of sales. He became president of the soup maker’s operations in emerging markets in 2006. In October 2009, Delaney became president of Campbell’s Asia-Pacific unit. Goodman Fielder... ...Read more »

Woolworths today confirmed the retirement of CEO Michael Luscombe, and his replacement by the company’s Chief Operating Officer for Australian Food and Petrol, Grant O’Brien. Speculation began late last year that Luscombe, who helmed the company through the GFC and the post-stimulus-package slowdown, was planning to retire. Today’s announcement confirms that Luscombe will hand over the reins on October 1st – his fifth anniversary as CEO. The Board of Woolworths Limited has... ...Read more »

Nestlé CEO Paul Bulcke has said that a long-term rise in commodity prices would be “no bad thing” and suggested it would drive investment into the agriculture sector. Bulcke told an analyst event in London last week that beneath the recent volatility in commodity costs was an “underlying trend” of rising raw-material prices due, in part, to the growing world’s population. Food manufacturers have faced a growing raw materials bill in recent months and have looked to... ...Read more »

Fonterra’s chief executive Andrew Ferrier has signalled his intention to step down from the post in the second half of this year.The New Zealand dairy giant revealed yesterday that after eight years as CEO Ferrier wants to exit the business by the end of the year. However, the company said that he will remain in place until a successor is found. “It is possible that we will have identified a suitable candidate by the second half of this year but Andrew is committed to continuing in his... ...Read more »

Woolworths Ltd has once again played down speculation that its chief executive Michael Luscombe is preparing to stand down from his post.Reports have dogged Woolworths over the past month that Luscombe is looking to retire. In an interview at the beginning of February, Luscombe noted that “all of us will retire at some time”. The comment sparked speculation that the Woolworths MD and CEO will stand aside, particularly given the mounting pressure that the supermarket operator is coming... ...Read more »

Today George Weston Foods Limited (GWF), a division of Associated British Foods (ABF), announced Andrew Reeves as its new Chief Executive, to lead the company’s future growth.Andrew starts his new role with GWF in April 2011, following the departure of the company’s previous Chief Executive, Geoff Starr. Over the past five years, Geoff led significant change at GWF and the broader industry through his board membership of the Australian Food and Grocery Council and Foodbank Australia. Andrew... ...Read more »