Major bakery, ingredients, and packaging machinery manufacturers and retail operators have unveiled new board and senior level appointments.
Check out our round-up of the latest leadership changes across the baking industry:
Nexture
CSM Ingredients owner Nexture has named Valerie Diele-Braun (see image above) as its new CEO, effective 2 March. She replaces Gabriele Del Torchio, who is transitioning to executive chairman and will continue to provide strategic guidance to the Milan-headquartered organisation.
Diele-Braun brings more than 30 years of international leadership experience across specialty ingredients and chemicals, with a strong track record in operational excellence, portfolio development, and value creation at scale. She previously served as CEO of Dutch specialty chemicals distributor IMCD and German fine chemicals supplier CABB.
In her new role, she will lead Nexture’s global operations, driving growth across the group’s portfolio of value-added solutions such as functional bakery ingredients, fruit and cream fillings, and gelato ingredients. She will also help enhance the business’ operational excellence and integration initiatives related to recently signed acquisitions including Portugal-based ingredients manufacturer Frulact and Italian ingredients supplier Sipral Padana.
Nomad Foods
The manufacturer behind Aunt Bessie’s Yorkshire pudding, Goodfellas pizza, and Birds Eye frozen food ranges has announced the appointment of Simon Ball as president UK & Ireland. Starting from 23 March, he will report directly to CEO Dominic Brisby as well as joining the executive team.
Ball is described as a distinguished and highly experienced senior business leader who has held multiple leadership roles across the food and retail sectors. Most recently, he served as managing director of Ornua Foods UK and Europe, where he oversaw significant commercial and operational transformation and sat on the global commercial leadership team. Prior to that, he worked at Greencore, M&S, IPL, and William Jackson Food Group.
At Nomad Foods, he is to strengthen commercial foundations, improving focus and agility, and unlocking meaningful value creation opportunities. “With market-leading brands and strong foundations to build from, there is tremendous potential ahead,” commented Ball. “I look forward to working with the team to help accelerate the progress already underway and ensure our brands continue to deliver exceptional value for consumers and customers across the UK & Ireland.”
Premier Foods
Matt Roberts is set to become the new chief customer officer at Premier Foods from 13 April. The appointment follows the decision of Richard Martin to retire after almost 20 years with the company, which produces the Mr Kipling and Cadbury cake ranges among several other retail brands.
Roberts brings extensive consumer goods experience having spent the majority of his career at Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble, working with many leading and well-known consumer brands across both UK and international markets. He joins Premier Foods from Karo Healthcare, where he has served as chief commercial officer since 2021, leading its global commercial team and helping to accelerate growth across its portfolio of consumer health brands.
“Premier Foods is home to some of the most loved and well-known food brands in the UK and has great ambitions for the future, underpinned by a clear and proven strategy to grow the business in the UK and internationally,” said Roberts. “I am delighted to be joining the business and working with the rest of the leadership team to take Premier Foods on the next stage of its growth, deepening our partnerships with customers, and building on its strong track record in recent years.”
SSP Group
Travel hub foodservice operator SSP – which owns the bakery chains Upper Crust and Millie’s Cookies – has revealed the appointment of its new chair, Andrew Martin. He will also assume the role of chair of the nomination committee following his start on 1 June, succeeding Carolyn Bradley who has served as interim chair since the AGM on 23 January 2026 and will remain on the board as senior independent director.
Martin has extensive experience across the global consumer, travel, hospitality and support services sectors. He is currently chair of quality assurance firm Intertek Group and is stepping down at the end of May after more than five years as well as ten years in total as a non-executive director. He was previously chair of recruitment agency Hays, and has also served as a non‑executive director of EasyJet and John Lewis Partnership, where he chaired the audit and risk committee.
“The company operates in an attractive industry and has a strong business model with clear opportunities for value creation,” expressed Martin. “I look forward to working with the board, Patrick [Coveney] and the broader leadership team to drive strong execution of the ‘Focus26’ agenda and to help shape strategy to deliver strengthened value for shareholders and other stakeholders.”
Ulma Packaging UK
The UK division of machinery manufacturer Ulma Packaging has strengthened its senior team by naming Paul Morican as its new managing director. He brings more than two decades of leadership experience across the packaging technology, processing equipment, and industrial manufacturing sectors.
He has built a strong commercial track record, delivering growth and developing performing teams as key account manager, sales team manager, head of sales and sales director with the likes of Markem-Imaje, Spooner, and Handtmann.
”Ulma Packaging UK holds an excellent reputation for engineering excellence and customer support,” said Morican. ”I’m eager and excited to join the business and to work with the team to continue delivering high-performance packaging, automation solutions and satisfaction to manufacturers across the UK and Ireland.”
Wholebake
Healthy snack bar supplier Wholebake has hired Marcus Hudson in the newly created role of head of sales & brands. The move is said to come at a time when the North Wales-based business prepares to scale its flagship brands and accelerate European growth. For example, it is targeting a tripling of volumes for Brynmor gluten-free flapjacks over the next 18 months, while protein energy balls brand Bounce is investing in brand activation and expanded retail distribution, including partnerships with Holland & Barrett and Sainsbury’s.
Hudson is tasked with strengthening brand strategy and expanding retail and distributor partnerships at Wholebake. He brings more than 25 years’ experience in the food and drink industry, with a strong track record in scaling brands and driving multi-channel growth. His most recent post was business development director at Brookfield Drinks, and he previously held senior commercial positions at The United Fresh Consortium, Clearly Drinks, Gunna Drinks, Jimmy’s UK, Innovative Bites, Red Star Beverages, and Largo Foods.
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