Danone’s new CEO strengthens management team | Photo credits: © Thomas Haley / Danone
PARIS, January 6 (Reuters) – Danone on Thursday announced the appointment of three new executives to its executive committee under the aegis of new chief executive Antoine de Saint-Affrique, who took office last September.
Newcomer to the group, Vikram Agarwal will take the post of general manager of operations and will be in charge of the “Cycles and Purchasing”, “Industrial” and “Supply Chain” functions with the ambition of strengthening Danone’s operational performance, a announced the group in a press release.
The position of General Director for Research, Innovation, Quality and Food Safety has been entrusted to Isabelle Esser, who will join Danone from April 2022.
Currently Managing Director “End-to-end Design To Delivery” within the group, Henri Bruxelles has for his part been appointed Managing Director, Sustainability and Strategic Development.
“The strengthening of Danone’s executive committee, with in particular the contribution of two personalities with recognized expertise, marks an important step in returning to what makes Danone a unique company: passion for brands and innovation, as well as operational excellence, combined with a pioneering spirit in terms of sustainability, “commented Antoine de Saint-Affrique, quoted in the press release.
Danone’s new CEO is tasked with boosting the group’s sales and profit margin, which has had an eventful 2021 marked by the departure of former CEO Emmanuel Faber under pressure from several shareholders.
The new leader must detail the group’s strategy during an investor day scheduled for March 8. (Report Blandine Hénault, edited by Jean-Michel Bélot)