Peter Kean, currently Managing Director of Lion Nathan National Foods’ New Zealand and Global Wine businesses, has been appointed Managing Director of food and beverage company National Foods, from 1 April 2011, replacing Andrew Reeves, who will leave the business to become CEO at ABF’s George Weston Foods. National Foods is one of Australasia’s largest FMCG companies, employing over 4,000 people and producing category-leading brands in milk and dairy beverages, juice, fresh dairy, cheese... ...Read more »

The Consumer Goods Forum has advised that Jean‐Marc Saubade will take on the role of Managing Director, effective January 4, 2010. Saubade comes to The Consumer Goods Forum* – a leading consumer goods network with senior management from 650 leading industry players – after stints in senior management positions at Cadbury and Kraft Foods. Following the creation of The Consumer Goods Forum in June 2009, the Board of Directors assigned a taskforce with the search of a Managing Director... ...Read more »

Ian Halliday is set to assume the role of Managing Director at industry service body Dairy Australia.Mr Halliday will commence on 1st January 2010 and comes to Dairy Australia with an impressive reputation in the food industry, Dairy Australia Chairman Max Roberts said. His career has spanned across the supply chain, including the dairy industry, and features a wide range of management roles in companies including SPC, White Wings, Kraft Foods and KR Castlemaine. Most recently he was the Chief Executive... ...Read more »

Aldi has transferred one of their key Australian managers to head up their UK and Ireland operations. Matthew Barnes, Managing Director of Buying here in Australia, will take the post of Managing Director Aldi UK, which was made available when Paul Foley left in August. Mr Foley was replaced on an interim basis Armin Burger before the appointment of Barnes, who has previously worked in their UK business as a Regional Director where he opened the first Aldi city centre store in Manchester. Mr Barnes... ...Read more »

Foster’s Group, Australia’s largest brewer, has today announced the appointment of a new leader of the wine division in Australasia. David Dearie, former Managing Director of global drinks business Brown Forman, will assume the role of Managing Director, Australasian Wine – a role created by the Wine Strategic Review completed in February this year. “I am delighted to welcome someone of David’s calibre to the executive leadership team” CEO, Ian Johnston, said.... ...Read more »

The Board of Directors of Patties Foods have advised that Greg Bourke, who was chosen as Chief Executive Officer in September 2008, has been appointed as Managing Director of Patties, effective yesterday (26 March 2009). Mr Bourke was recruited from the position of CFO at George Weston’s Don Smallgoods division after Dr Michele Allan resigned. He had spent 20 years with George Weston Foods before the move.  Read More →

Plans by fast-food giant McDonald’s to raise prices on its menu have been under fire, with the company forced to refute allegations that poorer suburbs – where consumers are more willing to pay more – will receive the bulk of price hikes. News Limited newspaper reports suggested the fast food restaurant chain would make the biggest changes to menu item prices based on socio-economic factors. “In general, the poorer suburbs will pay more,” a McDonald’s franchisee... ...Read more »

Foster’s Group Limited yesterday announced that Jamie Odell, Managing Director Australia, Asia, Pacific, will leave the Company on Friday 14 November to pursue other interests. It has been suggested that the decision was made by Odell because he was recently overlooked for the role as CEO, which was assumed by former non-executive director Ian Johnston. Mr Odell had been in charge of Foster’s wine division until 2006 before moving to his current role. It is believed that he was keen to... ...Read more »

McDonald’s Australia last night reported that Catriona Noble had been promoted to the position of Managing Director, making her the likely candidate for the Chief Executive role when it next becomes available. Ms Noble first began working with the fast food chain over two decades ago when she was just 14 and has worked in a number of positions including her current role as Chief Operating Officer. Current Chief Executive, Peter Bush, suggested the move was “a part of our succession planning”. Ms... ...Read more »