Our monthly round up of executive appointments, promotions, resignations and reshuffles. Please forward future announcements to eamonn.duff@mediaone.co.uk
Neil Farmer bows out of regular columns
Neil Farmer needs no introductions. He’s a global expert on sustainability, consumer and industrial packaging and everything FMCG related. He’s regularly spoken to packed theatres and event halls, passing on valuable insight and knowledge about latest innovations, markets and technology. For more than a decade, he’s also been the esteemed author of the regular “Neil Says” feature that appeared in our former title, Packaging Gazette. Neil, however, has announced his departure from writing regular columns as he looks to invest more time and energy towards new projects. Of his popular “Neil Says” column of 10 years, he proudly points out: “I never missed an issue during all that time.” It’s also worth noting he never missed a “Design Focus” panel contribution over the same period either. Fittingly, his final column (for the foreseeable future) is this magazine’s first ‘last word’ feature on page 63. We would
like to thank Neil for all his contributions and look forward to welcoming him back down the track.
Darby departure signals new start for Premier
All eyes will be on Premier Foods in the coming weeks to see who succeeds Chief Executive Gavin Darby (right), who is stepping down after nearly six years in the job.
Darby quit in November, four months after he narrowly survived a shareholder rebellion instigated by Premier’s second-largest shareholder, activist hedge fund Oasis Management. Oasis had accused Darby of presiding over five years of “persistent value destruction” and urged investors to send him packing at the company’s annual general meeting. After narrowly scraping home with just 59 percent of shareholder votes, he has chosen to bow out, on his own terms, on January 31.
Branston bolsters senior team
National potato supplier Branston has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of a new Sales and Marketing director. Sharon Affleck, who will be responsible for commercial insights, sales and product development at Branston, has more than 20 years’ experience in fresh produce. Prior to her new role, she worked her way through the ranks at fresh food supplier G’s Fresh from Commercial Manager, through to Managing Director. Branston is a major supplier of potatoes for leading supermarkets across the country, processing more than 300,000 tonnes of potatoes annually in Lincolnshire, Somerset and Perth.
Compressed Air Society appoints new President
James Morgan has taken over as new President of the British Compressed Air Society.
Mr Morgan, who is Managing Director of HPC Compressed Air Systems, succeeds James Maziak who is head of Maziak Compressors.
Founded in 1930, BCAS is the only UK technical trade association open to manufacturers, distributors and end users of compressors, vacuum pumps, pneumatic tools and allied products. Morgan takes the helm at a crucial time for the society and industry – which is braced for significant Brexit disruption.