Premier Foods Names New CEO, Hires Former Reckitt CFO As Chairman

By Publications Checkout
Premier Foods Names New CEO, Hires Former Reckitt CFO As Chairman

OXO cube maker Premier Foods on Friday named Alex Whitehouse, its UK managing director, as the chief executive officer in place of Gavin Darby who was ousted earlier this year.

The company also named former Reckitt Benckiser finance chief Colin Day as chairman and Duncan Leggett, director of financial control and corporate development, as acting finance head, with Alastair Murray deciding to step down.

Activist Pressure

Darby was removed earlier this year following pressure from activist hedge fund Oasis Management after he failed to halt a share price slide since a proposed takeover fell through two years ago.

He had led the Mr Kipling cake company since 2013, but was wounded in July last year when almost 41% of shareholders backed an attempt to oust him.

Chairman Day, who has held key positions at engineering company Meggitt and world's biggest advertising agency WPP, replaces Keith Hamill who had announced plans to retire in May.

News by Reuters, edited by Checkout. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.

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