FDF announces new appointments in leadership roles

Each year FDF elects a small group of officers from its main decision-making body of CEOs (the Executive Committee) to undertake critical leadership roles within the organisation, including the chairmanship of Steering Groups driving FDF's policies on the key issues affecting the industry. As part of the changes announced, FDF's Sustainability and Competitiveness Steering Group will be split into two. Nick Bunker, VP and managing director of Kraft Foods UK and Ireland, will chair FDF's new Competitiveness Steering Group, spearheading the Federation's work to promote the economic importance of food and drink manufacturing. John Sutcliffe, chief executive of the Grocery Division at Associated British Foods, will head up a new Sustainability Steering Group, which, among other things, will be responsible for driving forward FDF's ground-breaking five-fold Environmental Ambition building on the work of Fiona Dawson, managing director of Mars Chocolate UK. Fiona has agreed to move across to head up FDF's Health and Wellbeing Steering Group, taking over a crucially important area of policy work. She replaces Salman Amin of PepsiCo, who had successfully led the Steering Group since its formation, and who recently returned to the US to take up a new senior role within the company. Jim Moseley, managing director of General Mills UK, continues as chair of FDF's Food Safety and Scientific Steering Group, which oversees all FDF's vitally-important regulatory work. He has also agreed to act as FDF's representative on the Board of CIAA, the European trade association for food and drink manufacturing. The FDF officer team is completed by treasurer Paul Freeston, chief executive of apetito, and Jonathan Bye, managing director of Vimto, who has joined the Executive Committee as the Vice President representing the interests of FDF's SME members.