April Preston, currently one of two heads of food product development at Marks & Spencer, has been appointed innovation director for 2 Sisters Food Group.

Preston currently oversees new product ranges at Marks & Spencer, such as ready meals, chocolates and desserts, and starred in ITV’s Food Glorious Food, which made its debut in February.

The role of innovation director is a newly created one within 2 Sisters Food Group, the poultry giant that also owns Fox’s Biscuits, and will support the company’s major new focus on NPD, revealed by The Grocer earlier this month.

Preston’s arrival at 2 Sisters is the latest in a string of new senior appointments at the group as part of a restructure aimed at streamlining the group’s vastly expanded operations following the purchases of Northern Foods in 2011 and Vion UK’s red meat and poultry businesses earlier this year.

In August, 2 Sisters created two new chief operating officer roles, one for its protein division and one for chilled, ambient & frozen, both of whom report directly to Boparan Singh.

Preston will see M&S through its crucial Christmas trading period and join 2 Sisters in the new year. “April has made a significant contribution to M&S foods and leaves with our best wishes,” a spokesman for Marks & Spencer said.

2 Sisters Food Group declined to comment on Preston’s appointment.

2 Sisters’ innovation drive will see it focus on “true innovation” instead of simply tweaking existing products, a 2 Sisters source told The Grocer earlier this month.

The innovation drive comes after the company reported a loss of £33.5m loss for the year to 27 July 2013.

Meanwhile, 2 Sisters rival Moy Park has appointed Guy Wootton as its new director of category and insight.

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Richard Ford

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