Executive Leadership Team

Skills and experience: Alex joined the Company in July 2014 and was appointed Managing Director of the Grocery Strategic Business Unit in September 2014. He was promoted to UK Managing Director in April 2017.

Alex has significant senior international, marketing, sales, strategy, innovation and general management experience gained across multiple geographies. He spent 18 years with Reckitt Benckiser plc, where he held senior leadership roles, including Managing Director, New Zealand and Worldwide Head of Shopper & Customer Marketing. Earlier in his career, he held a number of retail management positions with Whitbread plc.

Key responsibilities: Alex is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Group, working with the Executive Leadership Team to ensure the implementation of the agreed strategy.

Skills and experience: Duncan joined the Company in September 2011 and has held a number of senior roles within finance, including Group Financial Controller and, most recently, Director of Financial Control and Corporate Development.

Key responsibilities: Duncan has responsibility for developing and implementing financial and operational strategies, financial risk management, treasury, investor relations and pensions strategy.

Skills and experience: Jo was appointed Chief Information Officer in November 2023. Prior to this she was Group CIO at Menzies Distribution. She has extensive experience in technology and transformation and previously held senior executive positions with a range of major businesses, including Bakkavor, Anglo American and SABMiller.

Key responsibilities: Jo is responsible for IT, data and analytics, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and transformation programmes to support the delivery of the Group’s strategic growth plans.

Skills and experience: Yilmaz was appointed Chief Marketing Officer in October 2019. He joined the Company in March 2015 and worked across several brands as Category Director before being promoted to Marketing Director in April 2018. Prior to this, he was at Procter & Gamble for 13 years in several senior brand management roles across different geographies, having started his career in Procter & Gamble as a Process Engineer.

Key responsibilities: Yilmaz has responsibility for all UK and International Marketing, Consumer Insights & Analytics, Research & Development and Innovation.

Skills and experience: Richard was appointed Chief Customer Officer in October 2019. He joined the business in March 2007 and has held numerous leadership roles across the Group, in a broad range of functional disciplines including customer management, commercial planning, commercial and channel strategy, marketing and category management. Prior to this, Richard held a number of senior commercial roles at Mars, Douwe Egberts and Kantar.

Key responsibilities: Richard is responsible for all UK and international customers and commercial functions, with a focus on ensuring that the full range of our customers’ needs across different formats and channels is reflected in our consumer-led plans.

Skills and experience: Simon was previously Head of Corporate Legal Affairs and Group Property at pladis, a global branded biscuits, confectionery, and snacks business (incorporating United Biscuits, Ülker, Godiva and DeMet’s Candy Company) having originally joined United Biscuits in 2003. He is a qualified solicitor and spent 12 years in private practice at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and then as a Partner at Burges Salmon.

Key responsibilities: Simon is responsible for legal, intellectual property and corporate governance.

Skills and experience: Paul joined the Company in April 2015 as Grocery Operations Director, was appointed UK Operations Director in March 2017 and Chief Supply Chain Officer in January 2024. Prior to this, Paul was at British American Tobacco for 23 years.

He held several senior manufacturing, supply chain and operations roles spanning both tobacco and alternative nicotine products across global, regional and local market positions in the UK, Uzbekistan, Asia Pacific North and Bangladesh.

Key responsibilities: Paul leads Premier Foods’ end to end supply chain with responsibility for supply chain planning, Group Procurement, manufacturing and logistics; as well as oversight of health & safety, food quality and environmental performance.

Skills and experience: David was appointed Human Resources Director in July 2014. He joined the Company in 2007 as Head of Group HR, before being appointed Director of HR Support in December 2011 and became HR Director of the Hovis Bread and Milling division in January 2013. David has previously held a number of senior HR roles at Renault Group UK, Nestlé UK, Granada, and J Sainsbury plc.

Key responsibilities:  In his role David covers all aspects of HR, with specific emphasis on organisation design, developing talent and capability, and resourcing and reward; in addition, through the Corporate Affairs team, David’s responsibility extends into the areas of internal and external communications and Public Affairs.