Hilton Food Group
plc
Directorate Change - NED &
Chair designate appointment
Hilton Food Group plc (the "Group" or
"Hilton Foods") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark
Allen OBE as a
Non-Executive Director and Chair designate with effect from 1
October 2024. Mark will become Chair of Hilton Foods' Board from 1
January 2025, at which time Robert Watson OBE will step down from the Board, after
more than 20 years with the business.
Mark, who has significant public
company, consumer goods and food sector experience, will also join
the Nomination Committee and assume the Committee Chair role from 1
January 2025.
Robert joined Hilton Foods as Chief
Executive in 2002 and became Executive Chairman in 2018. He
transitioned to a non-executive role in January 2021. He will
remain a long-term committed investor in Hilton Foods.
Mark is currently Chair of AG Barr, a
role he took up in March 2022. He was previously CEO at Dairy Crest
Group from 2007 to 2019 and has held non-executive director roles
at Halo Foods, Warburtons, Dairy UK, Howden Joinery Group and
Norcros, where he was Chair. Mark was awarded an OBE in the 2019
New Year's Honours list for services to the UK's dairy
sector.
No further information is required to
be disclosed under Listing Rule 9.6.13.
Robert Watson, Chair of Hilton Foods, said:
"After more than 20 years at Hilton
Foods the time is right to continue our process of evolving our
leadership. I am delighted that Mark is first joining the Board and
will then succeed me as Chair next year. I am proud of what we have
achieved at Hilton Foods and I will step down in the new year with
the business in a stronger position than ever before."
Mark
Allen said:
"I am delighted to be
joining a fantastic business, with great people and an excellent
leadership team. This is a very exciting time for Hilton Foods and
I am looking forward to continuing the excellent progress made so
far through Robert's leadership."
Angus Porter, Senior Independent Director, who oversaw the
process, commented:
"On behalf of the Board I am
delighted to welcome Mark as Hilton Foods Chair designate. We are
confident that we have identified the right successor to the
inestimable Robert Watson. Mark has a wealth of relevant experience
in the consumer goods and food sectors and, through the search
process, showed an outstanding appreciation of the Hilton Foods
strategy and values. Robert's contribution to Hilton Foods is
immeasurable and on behalf of all Hilton's people, our customers
and investors I want to thank him for everything he has done to
build this business into what it is today."
Enquiries
Hilton Food Group
Tel: +44 (0) 1480 387214
Steve Murrells CBE, CEO
Headland
Consultancy
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7638 9571
Susanna Voyle
Will Smith
Joanna Clark