Directorate Change

Hilton Food Group PLC

04 September 2024

 

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: [phone]

Steve Murrells CBE, CEO

Headland Consultancy                                 Tel: [phone]

Susanna Voyle

Will Smith

Joanna Clark

 

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