Mr Kipling owner Premier Foods appoints new CEO and chairman
Premier Foods has appointed a Reckitt Benckiser veteran as its new chairman and promoted its UK managing director to the role of CEO.
The Mr Kipling maker welcomes ex-Reckitt chief financial officer Colin Day as chairman, while UK MD Alex Whitehouse takes the helm at the British giant.
Read more: Premier Foods eyes up ex-Reckitt finance boss as new chair
Premier Foods has appointed a Reckitt Benckiser veteran as its new chairman and promoted its UK managing director to the role of CEO.
The Mr Kipling maker welcomes ex-Reckitt chief financial officer Colin Day as chairman, while UK MD Alex Whitehouse takes the helm at the British giant.
Both appointments are effective immediately. Day’s comes after the surprise resignation of Keith Hamill this summer, who stepped down as chair after less than two years.
Whitehouse takes over from Alastair Murray, who leaves the business today after stepping in as acting chief executive for the last seven months.
Senior independent board director Richard Hodgson said: “I am delighted that Colin Day is joining the company as chairman, a role to which he will bring extensive experience at a pivotal time in the company’s history.
“We are also very pleased that Alex Whitehouse, who has led the successful turnaround of our UK business, has accepted the role of group CEO.
“On behalf of the board I would like to thank Alastair Murray for his outstanding contribution to the business, both as CFO and more latterly as acting CEO, and wish him all the best for the future.”
Day said he will seek to boost earnings for investors as chairman.
“I am very much looking forward to joining Premier Foods at this key juncture as we look to deliver value for Premier Foods’ shareholders,” he said.
“It is the intention to further strengthen the Board with the appointment of an additional two independent non-executive directors as soon as possible.”
Whitehouse said he plans to boost value from Premier Foods’ brand portfolio, which includes Paxo and Angel Delight.
“I’m very encouraged by the improved performance of the business over the last couple of years and see this as something we can build on further,” he added.
The new appointments come at a critical time for Premier Foods, whose large debt pile has proved a burden along with a large pension deficit.
Read more: Premier Foods exec pay rises pass despite shareholder anger
Premier launched a strategic review into its business six months ago aimed at improving shareholder value.
A mooted sale of the Ambrosia custard brand was abandoned in February, when Premier blamed a poor market environment.
Premier Foods has appointed a Reckitt Benckiser veteran as its new chairman and promoted its UK managing director to the role of CEO.
The Mr Kipling maker welcomes ex-Reckitt chief financial officer Colin Day as chairman, while UK MD Alex Whitehouse takes the helm at the British giant.
Both appointments are effective immediately. Day’s comes after the surprise resignation of Keith Hamill this summer, who stepped down as chair after less than two years.
Whitehouse takes over from Alastair Murray, who leaves the business today after stepping in as acting chief executive for the last seven months.
Senior independent board director Richard Hodgson said: “I am delighted that Colin Day is joining the company as chairman, a role to which he will bring extensive experience at a pivotal time in the company’s history.
“We are also very pleased that Alex Whitehouse, who has led the successful turnaround of our UK business, has accepted the role of group CEO.
“On behalf of the board I would like to thank Alastair Murray for his outstanding contribution to the business, both as CFO and more latterly as acting CEO, and wish him all the best for the future.”
Day said he will seek to boost earnings for investors as chairman.
“I am very much looking forward to joining Premier Foods at this key juncture as we look to deliver value for Premier Foods’ shareholders,” he said.
“It is the intention to further strengthen the Board with the appointment of an additional two independent non-executive directors as soon as possible.”
Whitehouse said he plans to boost value from Premier Foods’ brand portfolio, which includes Paxo and Angel Delight.
“I’m very encouraged by the improved performance of the business over the last couple of years and see this as something we can build on further,” he added.
The new appointments come at a critical time for Premier Foods, whose large debt pile has proved a burden along with a large pension deficit.
Premier launched a strategic review into its business six months ago aimed at improving shareholder value.
A mooted sale of the Ambrosia custard brand was abandoned in February, when Premier blamed a poor market environment.
Both appointments are effective immediately. Day’s comes after the surprise resignation of Keith Hamill this summer, who stepped down as chair after less than two years.
Whitehouse takes over from Alastair Murray, who leaves the business today after stepping in as acting chief executive for the last seven months.
Senior independent board director Richard Hodgson said: “I am delighted that Colin Day is joining the company as chairman, a role to which he will bring extensive experience at a pivotal time in the company’s history.
“We are also very pleased that Alex Whitehouse, who has led the successful turnaround of our UK business, has accepted the role of group CEO.
“On behalf of the board I would like to thank Alastair Murray for his outstanding contribution to the business, both as CFO and more latterly as acting CEO, and wish him all the best for the future.”
Day said he will seek to boost earnings for investors as chairman.
“I am very much looking forward to joining Premier Foods at this key juncture as we look to deliver value for Premier Foods’ shareholders,” he said.
“It is the intention to further strengthen the Board with the appointment of an additional two independent non-executive directors as soon as possible.”
Whitehouse said he plans to boost value from Premier Foods’ brand portfolio, which includes Paxo and Angel Delight.
“I’m very encouraged by the improved performance of the business over the last couple of years and see this as something we can build on further,” he added.
The new appointments come at a critical time for Premier Foods, whose large debt pile has proved a burden along with a large pension deficit.
Premier launched a strategic review into its business six months ago aimed at improving shareholder value.
A mooted sale of the Ambrosia custard brand was abandoned in February, when Premier blamed a poor market environment.