Dutch giant Wessanen has hired a marketing director and commercial director for its UK business, which includes Clipper Teas, Kallo Foods and Whole Earth.

Gill Hesketh, who was marketing and commercial director of Clipper Teas, has been promoted to marketing director for Wessanen UK, with responsibility for marketing, technical and NPD.

Prior to Clipper, she was global marketing manager for Bacardi, and also worked for GSK.

“Clipper Teas, Kallo and Whole Earth all have their own identity, innovation and growth plans, and I am very much looking forward to helping take them to the next level, building upon Wessanen’s 250-year legacy in natural and organic food,” she said.

Alan Bird, meanwhile, moves up from the role of commercial director for Kallo Foods to become commercial director for Wessanen UK. He joined Kallo last year from Premier Foods where he was responsible for the Hovis Tesco account. He has also worked for Britvic and Kettle Foods.

“Clipper added to Whole Earth and Kallo is a very exciting portfolio of innovative challenger brands, with all three in year-on-year double-digit growth,” said Patrick Cairns, CEO of Wessanen UK. “With Gill and Alan we have the marketing and sales leadership that will allow them to build on the momentum created by the former team and for them to realise their great potential.”

Elaine Underwood, the previous marketing director of Kallo and Whole Earth, leaves at the end of August to “explore new opportunities”.

Topics