Martin Taylor, CEO of Stilton maker Long Clawson Dairy, has left the company after almost six years at the helm.

Taylor took over the role in January 2007 but, in a move that has surprised the industry, has left the business for personal reasons.

“Martin has decided to take an indefinite sabbatical to coincide with the birth of his second child and has left the dairy,” chairman John Collishaw said in a statement.

Taylor has been replaced by two joint MDs for the foreseeable future - Ashley Reek, current finance director, and operations director Kim Kettle. Reek has previous experience at KPMG, which would “continue to drive the commercial development of the business”, said Collishaw. Kettle has been with Long Clawson for many years and his “operational experience and experience of dairy farming and the community are unrivalled”, Collishaw added.

Despite the restructure at the top, Collishaw confirmed the rest of the senior management team would remain in their current roles, comprising commercial director Stuart Richardson, technical director John Burdett and marketing director Maggie Walker.

Long Clawson was in the process of “strengthening” its sales and marketing team, adding to investment that has already occurred through 2012, added Walker.

During Taylor’s time in office he oversaw the acquisition of Dairy Crest’s Hartingdon Creamery speciality cheese and Stilton business.

Major recent launches include Claxstone - a range of branded territorial and blue cheeses. The company also branched out into licensed manufacturing in the summer when it launched Heinz Tomato Ketchup and Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce. It recently added a Tabasco Sauce blended cheese to its line-up.

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