Former Sara Lee executive Marleen Vaesen will become chief executive of Belgium-based produce group PinguinLutosa.
Vaesen will take the role next month, replacing Hein Deprez, PinguinLutosa's controlling shareholder. The company said yesterday (9 October) Deprez will continue to "exercise an active role in determining the strategy of PinguinLutosa".
The group said Vaesen would look to continue integrating its recent acquisitions of canned food firm Scana Noliko and the frozen vegetable business of French co-op CECAB.
It added Vaesen would look to drive organic growth through "commercial initiatives and product development" with a "clear focus" on international markets.
However, she will also face reshaping the business after the likely sale of Lutosa, the group's potato division.
The company said last month it had signed a deal "in principle" to sell Lutosa to a mystery buyer. It refused to name the buyer but said it expects to complete the acquisition by the end of the year. Reports in Belgium have claimed ConAgra Foods' Lamb Weston division is the buyer.
