Paul Lindley, Head of infant, Hain Celestial 31 (34)
From a barn in Oxfordshire, Lindley masterminded Ella’s Kitchen’s development into a fast-growth international babyfood brand. Earlier this month, he sold up to US giant Hain Celestial. But while other entrepreneurs might have retired, or looked for a speedy exit, Lindley has taken on greater responsibility, running Hain Celestial’s newly created infant care division, including its US-based Good Earth brand.
Paul Conway, Vice chairman, Cargill 32
The profile of Cargill and its vice chairman - who splits his time between Cobham and Minnesota - is modest, but while supermarkets are exposed on both sides, this £88bn agrifood behemoth has benefited hugely from commodity market chaos. That said, it’s been a volatile 12 months - profits quadrupled in the three months to November, then crashed 42% in Q1
Matt Hill, UK president, Heinz 33
Under Hill’s direction, the Heinz UK & Ireland business has been regularly mentioned in dispatches from its Pittsburgh HQ, as his innovation and marketing-led recovery programme kept the group’s iconic beans and condiments relevant while it entered new markets. His feat was recognised through his promotion last year. And NPD shows no signs of letting up: last month, Heinz moved into gluten-free.
Euan Sutherland, CEO, The Co-operative Group 34
It’s been a baptism of fire for former B&Q boss Sutherland, who joined the society just a month ago to replace outgoing CEO Peter Marks.
Although the Co-op’s food business has recently shown marked signs of improvement and the company successfully completed the move to its glistening new state-of-the-art green HQ in Manchester, its banking business has been through the wringer over the last few weeks.
First there was the collapsed Lloyds deal that would have seen the Co-op Bank take on 632 branches. Then Moody’s downgraded the bank to ‘junk’ status, causing the chief executive of the Co-operative Bank, Barry Tootell, to step down. Sutherland has already been busy addressing the bank’s problems. To plug the estimated £1.8bn gap in the bank’s finances, the group’s general insurance arm has been put up for sale. And he used his first speech to the mutual’s agm earlier this month to calm fears that a financial crisis for the wider group was looming due to the group’s banking business.
Ronald Kers, CEO, Müller Dairy (UK) 35
Just 18 months after taking over at Müller, Kers is making his mark. Aiming to make Müller the biggest UK dairy company, he’s announced a £17m investment in a butter plant in Shropshire and launched NPD to bolster Müller’s premium credentials. The strategic hire of Carl Ravenhall - former MD of Arla’s cheese business - as MD of Müller Wiseman Dairies looks inspired
Ronny Gottschlich, UK MD, Lidl 36 (44)
Another great year for Gottschlich who continues to steer Lidl UK from strength to strength. He’s taken the retailer to a record market share of 3.0%, with year-on-year sales up around 10%. The media-shy Gottschlich is also unleashing a £66m investment across Lidl’s 600 stores to increase floorspace for fresh meat and poultry - a traditionally weak area for the discounters - by 50% and boost fresh line numbers by 49%.
Fiona Dawson, President, Mars Chocolate UK 37 (40)
Dawson this year added a second presidential role to her CV, taking over from Booker CEO Charles Wilson as IGD president. Her day job appears to be going well, with most Mars chocolate brands outperforming the overall market in the past year - even the Mars bar is back in growth. Her division has also been busy with NPD, this year making a big splash with a Maltesers countline bar.
Ivan Menezes,COO, Diageo 38
With Paul Walsh (qv) retiring after 13 years, the heir to the Diageo throne, Ivan Menezes, has big shoes to fill. However, the current COO and Diageo veteran looks like a good fit. Before becoming COO, Menezes was president and CEO of Diageo North America for eight years, so he knows the drinks business inside out. He was also given the additional roles of Asia-Pacific chairman and Diageo chairman for Latin America & the Caribbean, which stand him in good stead for the next phase of the company’s growth. Menezes has already revealed big plans for when he eventually takes over the reins, targeting the emerging markets of China, Africa and Latin America. He believes that up to 50% of sales of Johnnie Walker, Guinness and Pimm’s could eventually come from these areas. Menezes is set to assume control from July, although there will be a lengthy handover period, with Walsh sticking around for the next 12 months. Menezes’ first task will be to complete the deal to buy a controlling stake in Indian drinks firm United Spirits.
Richard Evans, President, PepsiCo UK 39 (46)
Last summer, Pepsi and Britvic mounted a promotional assault to rain on Coke’s parade. The big question now is whether Evans and PepsiCo spoil AG Barr’s Britvic merger. On paper they’ve backed the deal, but they may want to seize control of their bottler. Meantime, the Walkers portfolio and Quaker oats continue to star. The one sore point is Tropicana, which lost ground to Innocent.
Barry Williams, Chief merchandising officer, Asda 40
Williams owns a greyhound called Rollback, and you would never know, from his humour or style, that he is the architect of Asda’s EDLP programme. As well as strategic skills, he is also engendering co-operation: for Asda’s Sustain and Save Exchange programme - a free online tool to help Asda and its suppliers swap cost-saving efficiency tips - he insisted suppliers keep the savings.
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