Antoine Fiévet, Chairman and CEO, announces a new stage in the governance of Bel Group which should lead to the implementat...
11 Mai 2021 - 08:50AM
Antoine Fiévet, Chairman and CEO, announces a new stage in the
governance of Bel Group which should lead to the implementation of
a separate governance system in 2022 and to the appointment of
Cécile Béliot as CEO
Suresnes, May 11th 2021 – 8.50
a.m.
Antoine Fiévet, Chairman and CEO,
announces a new stage in the governance of Bel
Group which should lead to the implementation of a separate
governance system in 2022 and to the appointment
of Cécile Béliot as CEO
Under the impetus of its Chairman and CEO, the
Bel Group has announced its intention to move towards a form of
governance that separates the functions of Chairman of the Board of
Directors and Chief Executive Officer, which should lead Antoine
Fiévet and the Nomination Committee to submit the appointment of
Cécile Béliot to Group CEO for a vote by the Board of Directors in
2022.
During the upcoming transitory period, Cécile
Béliot becomes Group Executive Vice President and succeeds Antoine
Fiévet as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of MOM (Materne®,
Pom’Potes®/GoGo squeeZ®, Mont-Blanc® brands, etc.).
Prepared for since Cécile Béliot joined Bel as
Executive Vice President in charge of the Group’s Strategy, Growth
levers and Markets, this evolution seeks to allow Bel Group to
continue to lead its transformation, while perpetuating the vision
and values carried by the Bel-Fiévet shareholder family since the
creation of the company over 150 years ago. The mission undertaken
by Cécile Béliot in this transitory period is to progressively
prepare the next steps for bringing together Bel and MOM teams and
to continue implementing the Group’s strategy on its three
complementary product families – dairy, plant-based and fruit – in
line with the innovation, internationalisation and modernisation
processes that she has already set in motion within Bel.
Since Cécile Béliot joined the Group in 2018,
she has defined within the Executive Committee the pillars of the
strategy for a sustainable growth model and has led alongside
Antoine Fiévet the deployment of this strategy: acceleration of
innovation with the shift towards plant-based products, overhaul of
the brands’ missions while respecting their historic attributes,
acceleration of the Group’s new geographical territories (USA,
China…) and distribution channels (e-commerce, out-of-home…).
Bel's Board of Directors has declared itself in
favour of this move towards separate governance as of 2022. This
type of governance has shown its strengths in many international
companies and should allow both for short-term transformation and
for long-term sustainable performance in an increasingly uncertain
and complex world.
Antoine Fiévet, Bel Group’s Board of Directors
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer has said: “This governance
shift is the fruit of a long-standing consideration, and I have
wished to progressively set it up to guarantee the stability and
sustainability of the Group’s growth. As we celebrate the 100th
anniversary of our iconic brand, The Laughing Cow®, we are at a
symbolic moment demonstrating our ability to take the long view.
This is also a strategic moment, as we are accelerating on new
growth territories: plant-based products and, through our MOM
activities, the fruits segment. Cécile Béliot has shown over these
past years her commitment to our Group’s values and DNA, her
leadership, her ability to transform our model in order to uphold
our mission: offering healthier and responsible food for all. I am
convinced that she will be able to meet our future challenges and
to continue developing sustainably our Group and its brands.”
Cécile Béliot, Group Executive Vice President
has said: “The trust shown in me by Antoine Fiévet and the
shareholder family is a great honour, but above all a great
responsibility. It commits me to the pursuit of our mission which
we have undertaken together for three years now, and to be
dedicated to the values which have made our Group’s success. I
deeply believe in the strength of our model to invent the
sustainable food of tomorrow, accessible to as many people as
possible. I am proud that we are committed to this on a daily
basis, together with all of the employees of the Group.”
About BelThe Bel Group is a
world leader in branded cheese and a major player in the healthy
snack market. Its portfolio of differentiated and internationally
recognized brands include such products as The Laughing Cow®,
Kiri®, Mini Babybel®, Leerdammer®, Boursin®, Pom’Potes®, Nurishh®,
and GoGo squeeZ®, as well as some 20 local brands. Together, these
brands helped the Group generate sales of €3.46 billion in 2020.
Some 12,510 employees in some 40 subsidiaries around the world
contribute to the deployment of the Group's mission to champion
healthier and responsible food all. Bel products are prepared at 33
production sites and distributed in nearly 120 countries.
------------------Press Contacts BelHavas
Paris – bel.groupe@havas.comLaure Calixte –
06.33.81.81.17
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