FDBusiness.com

UK food group Premier Foods has announced changes to its leadership team to strengthen focus on the company’s renewed growth plan, under new chief executive Michael Clarke. In the new structure, commercial leadership responsibilities will be split between the grocery and newly configured bakery businesses with the creation of two new group executive roles of managing director reporting directly to Michael Clarke. Following the creation of this new structure, the role of chief operating officer will disappear. Consequently, Tim Kelly, executive director and chief operating officer will leave Premier Foods following a short handover.

Iwan Williams is taking charge of the group’s £1.1 billion bread, cake, milling and Brookes Avana businesses. Iwan Williams has a wealth of general management and marketing experience gained through previous roles including president of McCormicks Europe, Middle East and Africa and strategic marketing director of Coca- Cola, Asia Pacific. His earlier career included time with SC Johnson Wax and Cadbury Schweppes.

Graham Hunter will join the company early in 2012 to lead Premier Foods’ £1.0 billion grocery business.  He joins from 2 Sisters Food Group. This company acquired Northern Foods earlier in the year where Graham Hunter was managing director of a number of the company’s branded businesses, including Fox’s Biscuits and Goodfella’s Pizza. His earlier career included general management and marketing roles with Jacob’s Bakery and Mars.