Northern Foods’ group procurement director Alex Mayfield has joined Warburtons as one of three new senior hires.

Mayfield has taken on the role of business solutions director at the baker. In addition to procurement, he has been given responsibility for logistics, supply chain, food safety, health and safety, and engineering.

Mayfield, who brings a wealth of experience to the role having worked at Gillette and Esso Petroleum prior to Northern, replaces Malcolm Keat, who retired after a 30-year career at the company.

“It is an opportunity to fulfil a broader role and work for a business that is investing heavily in its future,” said Mayfield. “I was attracted by the Warburtons’ values. I was also impressed by the focus of the owners.”

The baker has also hired Sue Yell as HR director. She joins the company from Iceland, where she has been HR director since 2002, having worked previously at Marks & Spencer and News International.

Both Yell and Mayfield have taken seats on Warburtons’ business management board, which takes care of the day-to-day running of the business while the board of directors looks after strategic planning.

Building on the growing popularity of gluten- and wheat-free products, Warburtons has also recruited Chris Hook as ‘free-from’ business unit director. Hook has been tasked with using his experience at the likes of Roussel Laboratories and Welfare Foods to grow Warburtons’ share of the free-from market.

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