Leadership

Executive directors

• Michael Clarke
• Chief Executive Officer
• 

		Prior to joining the Group, Michael served as President of Kraft Foods Europe. In this role he was responsible for managing the group’s entire European business, with revenues of $13 billion, 58 manufacturing sites and 25,000 employees, reporting directly to Kraft’s Chairman & CEO. Previously Michael was President of The Coca-Cola Company, Northwest Europe (including the UK) & Nordics and was with the company for 12 years in a number of senior roles. Previous to this, Mike was Vice President for Reebok South Asia/Pacific and began his early career as a Chartered Accountant in South Africa with Deloitte. He graduated with a degree in Commerce from the University of Cape Town. Michael is also a non-executive director of Wolseley plc.
		Close

• Mark Moran
• Chief Financial Officer
• 

		Mark joined Premier Foods as Chief Financial Officer in December 2011. Prior to this Mark served as Chief Financial Officer of SSL International plc where he gained extensive experience of working with global brands during his six years at SSL including strategic and day-to-day financial management, executive Board responsibilities and investor relations. Prior to this he held senior roles at Porvair Plc and Caradon plc. Mark was trained as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen. Mark was previously a non-executive director of Brixton plc between 2008 and 2009. Mark is responsible for overseeing the financial operations of the Group and setting its financial strategy in conjunction with the Finance Committee and the Board. He also oversees the overall framework for financial forecasting, planning, analysis and reporting.
		Close

Non-executive directors

• Ronnie Bell
• Non-executive Chairman
• 

		Ronnie spent a 30 year career with Kraft Foods Inc, the world's second largest food company. During this time he gained extensive experience in marketing, business development and general and international management. Ronnie assumed his first country general management role, for the UK and Republic of Ireland, in 1990. He then widened his responsibilities geographically to include 16 European countries following his appointment as President of Kraft Foods Europe, a position he held for five years. In this role he was responsible for all the Group's coffee, chocolate and grocery brands in the region. Ronnie is responsible for leading the Board and ensuring it operates in an effective manner. As Chairman he is responsible for setting Board agendas and ensuring sufficient time is available for discussing key strategic issues. He is also responsible for promoting constructive relations between the executive and non-executive directors and ensuring effective communication with shareholders.
		Close

• Charles Miller Smith
• Non-executive Deputy Chairman
• 

		Charles is a Senior Advisor at Warburg Pincus LLC and prior to this was an International Adviser at Goldman Sachs International from 2001 until 2005. Charles worked with Unilever plc for over 30 years, the last five years of which he served as a Director of Finance. He held a wide range of financial and general management positions in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and India. Charles was Chief Executive Officer and then Chairman at ICI plc from 1994 to 2001 and served as Chairman of Scottish Power plc between 2000 and 2007. As Deputy Chairman Charles is responsible for assisting the Chairman in performing his duties and where appropriate deputising in his absence. Charles has extensive commercial experience both as an executive director of a number of multinational companies and also in advising a range of financial organisations.
		Close

• David Beever
• Non-executive director
• 

		After qualifying as a Chartered Engineer, David has spent most of his career in the financial sector. He was Vice-Chairman of S. G. Warburg where he handled many corporate finance transactions for major UK and International companies. He was later a Board Member of KPMG and Chairman of Corporate Finance. Earlier he worked for several years at 3i Group plc. He has been Chairman of a number of listed and other companies including Volex Group plc and London and Continental Railways plc, builders of the Channel Tunnel Link. He was also a non-executive director of JJB Sports plc and Paragon Group of Companies plc. David has a wealth of experience within the finance industry and provides advice and counsel to the Board on major strategic financial issues as Chairman of the Finance Committee and a member of the Audit Committee. During the year the Finance Committee has reviewed the Group’s financial strategy, swap portfolio and pension investments strategy. David will be appointed as senior independent director following David Felwick’s retirement in April 2011.
		Close

• Ian McHoul
• Non-executive director
• 

		Ian is currently Chief Financial Officer of AMEC plc. Ian’s earlier career was spent in the brewing industry where he spent 10 years with Courage Ltd and its parent company Foster's Brewing Group in a variety of roles and served as General Manager of Strategy of Foster's Brewing Group and executive director of Strategy and Planning of Courage Ltd from 1992 to 1995. He was Finance and Strategy Director of the Inntrepreneur Pub Company Ltd from 1995 to 1998. Ian then served at Scottish & Newcastle plc between 1998 and 2008 and held the position of Finance Director from 2001. Ian qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in 1985. Ian has extensive financial experience and expertise which is utilised by the Board in his capacity as Chairman of the Audit Committee and also as a member of the Finance Committee. The Audit Committee has responsibility for monitoring the integrity of the Group’s financial reporting systems, financial controls and the effectiveness of the internal audit function.
		Close

• Dr Louise Makin
• Non-executive director
• 

		Louise is currently Chief Executive Officer of BTG plc, an international specialist, healthcare company. Louise was appointed CEO in October 2004 and has led the turnaround, strategic positioning and growth of the company. Previously, Louise was President of the Biopharmaceuticals Division of Baxter Healthcare Europe, after having joined Baxter in 2000 as Vice-President, Strategy & Business Development Europe. Prior to Baxter, Louise spent 13 years with ICI plc and English China Clay. Louise holds an MA in Natural Sciences and a PhD in Metallurgy from the University of Cambridge, and an MBA. Louise has significant commercial and management expertise within the healthcare industry. She chairs the Remuneration Committee which over the year has reviewed and approved a major review of executive remuneration involving consultation with shareholders and investor bodies.
		Close

• David Wild
• Non-executive director
• 

		David joined the Group in March 2011. He is currently Chief Executive Officer of Halfords and was previously with Walmart where he was Senior Vice President of New Business Development in San Francisco. Prior to this role, David was President of Walmart Germany. Earlier in his career he was with Tesco (1985-2003) where he held a variety of roles including developing and latterly leading their business in Central Europe.
		Close

Group Executive

• Brian Carlton
• Group HR Director
• 

		Brian joined the business in 1994 as Head of Personnel for the Canned Foods Division. His responsibilities have since been extended to embrace all HR activities across the Group. He was appointed to the Group Executive in October 2006. Prior to joining Premier, Brian held HR and Operational roles in Chrysler UK, K Shoes, Metal Box and Smurfit Packaging. Brian's key responsibilities include managing and developing the Group’s Human Resources function, developing and implementing best practice policies and procedures; and ensuring effective employee communication.
		Close

• Ian Deste
• Group Sales Director
• 

		Ian joined Premier Foods in September 2011 as Group Sales Director. He previously spent 20 years with Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd (CCE), including nine years as a member of the GB board. Most recently, Ian held the position of Vice President, Sales and Customer Development, prior to which he held other senior positions in sales, marketing and communications at CCE. In his early career, he worked in the beer and tobacco industries. Ian's key responsibilities include developing strategy, tactics, sales plans and profit targets; identifying and reporting on business opportunities in target markets; and working towards achieving targets for revenue, profitability and sales growth.
		Close

• Dean Holroyd
• Group Technical and Innovation Director
• 

		Dean was appointed Group Technical and Innovation Director in July 2011. Prior to this Dean was Hovis Supply Chain Director and joined Premier Foods following the acquisition of RHM in 2007. Dean joined the RHM Group in 1997 and served the first seven years as Managing Director initially at Ledbury Preserves before moving on to Le Pain Croustillant. Prior to this Dean worked in a number of commercial and operational roles with Associated British Foods, Manor Bakeries and Northern Foods. Dean’s responsibilities include setting the strategy to develop and deliver a strong innovation pipeline; ensuring our product design, systems and processes deliver consumer preferred product quality in our chosen areas; and ensuring that all Premier Foods products comply with the highest standards of food safety and legislation.
		Close

• Mark Hughes
• Group Procurement Director
• 

		Mark joined Premier Foods and the Group Executive in 2007 following the acquisition of RHM. Mark Hughes joined RHM in 2003 as Divisional Services Director (Bread Bakeries) and became a member of the Bread Bakeries Division Executive in 2004 and was Group Procurement and Logistics Director and a member of the Group Executive of RHM in 2006. Mark was previously director at Archer Daniels Midland Milling (UK) and has held a number of senior positions with Associated British Foods plc. Mark's key responsibilities are the control and risk management of over £1.5bn of spend on ingredients, packaging, energy, machinery, facilities, engineering, marketing and all corporate spend. These include ensuring the Group remains competitive and well placed within a changing market through the provision of innovative procurement processes, policies, stakeholder engagement and external supplier relationship management.
		Close

• Richard Johnson
• Group Corporate Affairs Director
• 

		Richard joined Premier Foods in 2011 as Group Corporate Affairs Director. Previously, Richard was Corporate Affairs Director for Kraft Foods Europe based at the company's headquarters in Switzerland. He also held senior corporate affairs roles at Kraft Foods in the UK, Belgium and the US and, for a time was Vice President Corporate Affairs for McDonald's Europe. Richard's key responsibilities include leading the Group's internal and external communications, public affairs, corporate social responsibility and community relations activities.
		Close

• Andrew McDonald
• General Counsel & Company Secretary
• 

		Andrew joined the Group in November 2011 as General Counsel & Company Secretary. Prior to this he held the same position at Uniq plc, recently acquired by the Greencore Group. Andrew is a qualified solicitor and worked as a corporate lawyer at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer before moving into industry. He is a law graduate of Manchester University. Andrew has responsibility for the legal, company secretarial and internal audit functions and is actively involved in key operational issues facing the business. He is on the steering group of all corporate and strategic projects pursued by the Group. He is a member of the Group Executive and chairs the risk review group and policy steering group. He also supports the Chairman with the management of the Board to ensure it fulfils its corporate governance obligations.
		Close

• Bob Spooner
• Group Supply Chain Director
• 

		Bob joined Premier Foods and the Group Executive in April 2007. Before joining, Bob was previously Group Supply Director for Northern Foods plc and Managing Director of Northern Foods’ Pastry Products business and prior to that held senior operational and supply chain roles with ICI Paints, and Sara Lee. Bob's key responsibilities include responsibility for operations strategy for the Group including line management responsibility for all manufacturing, logistics, health and safety, Group engineering and environmental management.
		Close

• Mark Vickery
• Group IS & Change Director
• 

		Mark joined the Group in early 2005 as Director of IS & Change Management. Following the acquisition of RHM he assumed the role of Group IS & Change Director. Mark started his career at Unilever plc where he spent 17 years working in a number of businesses and geographies. He then moved to United Biscuits as IS Director prior to joining Premier Foods. Mark's key responsibilities include managing the Information Services function and delivering operational services and projects to the Group; programme director for the major system and change programmes in the business; and leading approaches to change and project management for the Group.
		Close

• Iwan Williams
• Managing Director
• 

		Iwan joined Premier Foods in November 2011 as Managing Director Bakery. Iwan has a wealth of general management and marketing experience gained through previous roles including President of McCormicks Europe, Middle East and Africa and Strategic Marketing Director of Coca- Cola, Asia Pacific. His earlier career included time with S.C. Johnson Wax and Cadbury Schweppes. Iwan has overall responsibility for the Company's Bread, Cake, Milling and Brookes Avana businesses.
		Close