PEOPLE - Brief Article

Eurofood, April 26, 2001

Having identified consistent pastry quality as a key product issue, UK firm Freshbake has appointed a `pastry guru' in the shape of Nick Goodwin. Goodwin, whose official title at Freshbake is pastry quality manager has great expertise in this area having acquired past experience with both Northern Foods and United Biscuits.

Gerd Sonnleitner is the new president of the Committee of Agricultural Organisations (COPA) in the European Union. Sonnleitner succeeds Belgian Noel Devish.

Dutch supermarket and foodservice company Royal Ahold has announced its corporate executive board has appointed Thijs Smit as senior vice president internal audit, effective 1 April 2001. Smit succeeds Paul Ekelschot, who has been appointed senior vice president financial services.

Also at Ahold, Frank Rijksen has been appointed chief financial officer at Ahold Polska effective 24 April 2001. Rijksen is currently CEO at the Etos group in the Netherlands. Rijksen will report to Jacquot Boelen, CEO at Ahold Polska. Sjoerd Schaafsma succeeds Rijksen at Etos reporting to John van der Ent.

Tim Martin has been named vice president of dairy foods, finance and administration, at US farm-owned food and agricultural cooperative Land O'Lakes. Martin succeeds Tom Verdoorn who recently assumed the position of vice president of international operations dairy proteins for Land O'Lakes. Martin has been at Land O'Lakes since 1975.

US firm Supervalu has announced that its board of directors has elected Jeff Noddle as its chief executive officer effective 27 June 2001. Noddle will replace Mike Wright who plans to retire from his position on 22 June 2001. Noddle joined Supervalu in 1976 and has fulfilled many roles at the company. Last year, Noddle was elected to the position of chief operating officer.

George T. Shaheen has resigned from his position of chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors at US Internet grocer Webvan. Shaheen has been CEO at Webvan since October 1999, and chairman of the board of directors since February 2001. Robert Swan, chief operating officer at Webvan will lead the company until the board of directors appoints Shaheen's successor. Shaheen said, "Unfortunately, changes in the capital markets have altered the timetable and operating approach to the achievement of the model as originally envisioned. A different kind of executive is needed to lead the company [...] and I will be leaving the company."

US supermarket firm Albertson's has named Stacia Hill Levenfeld as its Public Affairs Manager for Northern California.

Campbell Soup Company of the US has announced F. Martin Thrasher is leaving the company to pursue other career interests. Thrasher was head of Campbell North America. As the US soup company is reorganising its business, the new North American Soup Division is to be headed up by Andrew Hughson. Campbell is currently looking for a candidate to lead its beverage and soup division.

US food company Heinz has named James Krushelniski as president and chief executive officer of Heinz Canada, effective 1 May 2001. Krushelniski replaces Mark Leckie, who resigned to accept a position outside Heinz.

Aptus Personnel, formerly known as Initial Food Personnel, has named Carole Stevens as director of the Food & Catering division at Aptus.

US firm Rubio's Restaurants has announced that Jack W. Goodhall has joined its board of directors. Goodhall led US fastfood restaurant chain Jack in the Box from 1970 to 1996.

Patrice Ferrand has been named as the new director general of Ben & Jerry's France. Ferrand has had past experience with the likes of Mars, Coors and Imperial Tobacco France.

Dutch firm Nutreco has announced that its chief financial officer and executive board member, Theo van der Raadt is to resign, effective 1 July 2001. Van der Raadt has been nominated for the position of chief executive officer at Ahrend, a Dutch office goods trader. Van der Raadt had served for eight years at Ahrend as chief financial officer.

Michael Durham, head of Burger King North America has left the company following management restructuring. John Dasburg, who took over the reigns at the Diageo-owned unit has said he wanted to remove a layer of management between himself and its US operations.

Roland Fahlin, chairman of CIES has been appointed to the Royal Ahold supervisory board, effective 1 September 2001. Fahlin's appointment is subject to shareholder approval.

US food operation Dean Foods has announced that its president and chief operating officer, Richard E. Bailey is resigning, effective 30 April 2001. Bailey has decided to pursue other career options in the light of the recently announced merger between Dean Foods and Suiza Foods. Current chairman and chief executive officer, Howard M. Dean will assume Bailey's responsibilities.