Bernard Matthews has appointed Hain Daniels CEO Rob Burnett as its new chief executive.
Burnett will join the turkey giant on 30 June.
Bernard Matthews has been without a CEO since May 2013, when previous CEO Noel Bartram, ex-chairman David McCall and former UK MD Rob Mears all retired or left in swift succession. The company has since been run by executive chairman David Joll.
The company said Burnett would bring “considerable brand experience” to Bernard Matthews, having looked after the New Covent Garden Soup, Linda McCartney and Hartley’s brands during his 12 years as CEO of Daniels Group. Prior to his time with Hain, Burnett worked for the Albert Fisher group, including as group commercial director and MD of its seafood division.
“His commercial and production experience is ideal for the business,” Bernard Matthews said.
Bernard Matthews has hit tough times in recent years and been the subject of frequent takeover speculation. It posted a £20m pre-tax loss for the 12 months to 30 June 2013, and turnaround specialists Rutland Partners invested more than £20m in the company in September. Spiralling costs and “planning errors” were largely to blame for the losses, Joll told The Grocer in an interview at the time, adding that a radical turnaround plan had been implemented to bring the company back into the black.
“We are delighted to have Rob joining us to continue and accelerate the recovery of our business which is well underway,” Joll said today.
Burnett said: “I am excited to be joining a big brand with the reach of Bernard Matthews and the potential to reinvigorate it to support our valuable customers.”
Hain Daniel said this afternoon (25 April) that its CFO Jeremy Hudson would be stepping into the CEO spot.
Updated at 14.32 with news of Jeremy Hudson’s appointment.
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