Nestlé Waters has swapped one Italian for another at the helm of its UK business.

Federico Sarzi Braga, director of San Pellegrino’s Italian ­business unit, has taken up the role of Nestlé Waters’ UK MD, replacing Paolo Sangiorgi, who has moved into a pan-European role as SVP - regional business head Europe retail.

Joining San Pellegrino in 2000 as brand manager, Sarzi Braga has held a number of different roles within the commercial team in Italy including head of marketing for Nestlé Waters Europe.

Sangiorgi, who had been at the helm since 2007, oversaw the opening of a £35m bottling plant in Buxton, Derbyshire, in 2012 and led Nestlé Waters through a period of rapid growth in the UK. Buxton’s water sales climbed 16.8% last year to £59.2m, while San Pellegrino’s sales rose 24.5% to £18.4m [Nielsen 52 w/e 12 October].

The change of leadership in the UK comes as yet another Italian takes over as the global boss of Nestlé Waters. At the end of last year, John Harris retired and was succeeded by Marco Settembri, previously head of Nestlé Purina Petcare Europe.

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