The Board of Arla Foods UK plc is pleased to announce the appointment of Tim Smith as Chief Executive with effect from 1st June 2005.
Hanne Sondergaard, Executive Director (Marketing) and Martin Gilbert, Executive Director (Operations) will also join the Board with effect from 1st June 2005.
Neil Davidson who announced his retirement as Chief Executive on 24th January 2005 has decided to leave the Board with effect from 1st June 2005. However, he will continue working within the Company as a consultant to complete certain specific projects.
Sir David Naish, Chairman, said:
"We are delighted with the appointment of Tim as Chief Executive. After Neil informed the Board of his retirement, it was felt appropriate to conduct a full
review of potential candidates. After extensive research and the use of outside consultants, the Board unanimously decided because of Tim's experience,
leadership qualities and industry knowledge that an internal appointment was the correct route to follow.
"As it is an internal appointment, the Board felt that Tim should take up his position as soon as practical and Neil felt that this would be an appropriate
time to retire from the Board.
"We would like to thank Neil for his considerable contribution first to Northern Foods, then Express Dairies and more recently to Arla and the milk industry over the last 27 years where there have been significant changes and many challenges. We wish him well in his retirement."