Food group strengthens leadership

New chief executive Ronald Kers has conducted a ‘root and branch’ review of his senior teams, identifying roles and individuals that will best move the organisation forward.

He has hired senior staff from diary giant Muller, which he previously led.

The country’s biggest chicken supplierhas sites in West Bromwich and Smethwick and recently reversed a decision to close its Wolverhampton plant.

Lee Greenbury, who has been director of legal at Muller for the last six years, has joined to take up the new role of group people and compliance director.

Current UK poultry managing director Keith Packer will become meal solutions managing director after the departure of Simon Wookey next month.

Mr Packer will be replaced by Andrew McInnes as managing director of the UK poultry business. He also joins from Muller where he was managing director of milk and ingredients

Seb Jones, who has had a 23-year career at Muller, most recently as global group integration director, has joined as transformation director.

Marvilano Mochtar has also been hired from Boston Consulting Group for the newly-created role of strategy manager.

Mr Kers said: "Transforming 2 Sisters requires top team effort. By bringing in the right people in the right roles, we are building the foundations of a disciplined, high performance organisation.

"If we are to truly become the leading international food business, trusted and respected by all stakeholders, then we need to have the strongest possible leadership team.

"We continuously need to set the bar higher and deliver for our customers, consumers and ourselves, and I know this new team will do that."

Mr Mochtar will join 2 Sisters on October 15, Mr McInnes and Mr Jones on October 29 with Mr Greenbury and Mr Packer starting on January 1.

Mr Kers, who has been in place since June and was previously Muller's global chief executive, said: "I want us to turnaround our business performance as soon as possible, and although we are making some progress already, I want to accelerate the pace.

"I know that having a strong, senior leadership team in place that I know and who have a track record of delivery is essential."

"I have worked very closely with Andrew, Lee and Seb over the years and I am confident they can hit the ground running and add great value to 2 Sisters." he added.

"I would like to thank William Duncanson for holding the reigns in the interim and credit Keith Packer for helping to start the turnaround of the UK Poultry division during his short time in post.

"I know with his experience at 2 Sisters he is extremely well-placed to build on Simon’s good work. Andrew is an accomplished food industry leader and I know he will bring further professionalism and delivery to our poultry operations, while Marvilano and Seb will bring much-needed strategic insight and process excellence to all of our businesses.

"This is an unprecedented period of change at 2 Sisters. But it is a period that has to happen. Sometimes periods of rapid change can be unsettling.

"But we do need the best possible team to bring a laser-like focus on becoming more disciplined in our execution to achieve our goals of improved profitable growth and a strong balance sheet."