Northern Foods: announces departure of CEO

Leeds / UK. (div) Last week Northern Foods PLC, best known for Fox´s biscuits and Goodfella´s pizzas, has unveiled plans to merge with sandwich and readymeal maker Greencore Group. The 50:50 merger will create a new British-Irish entity called «Essenta Foods», with sales of two billion Euro per year and 17’000 staff. This week Northern Foods announces the departure of Stefan Barden as Chief Executive; the appointment of Simon Herrick, Group Finance Director, as Acting Chief Executive; and the appointment of Steve Henderson, Group Financial Controller, as Acting Chief Financial Officer (who will not be joining the Board). Barden´s departure and these changes will take effect on 30 November 2010 and follow the announcement on 17 November 2010 of the proposed merger between Northern Foods and Greencore Group. It is expected that these new appointments will remain in place during the period leading up to the completion of the proposed merger. Should the proposed merger progress to completion, Herrick will then become Group Finance Director of Essenta Foods PLC. Anthony Hobson, Chairman of Northern Foods: «The Board is grateful to Stefan for his successful leadership of the business over the past four years, which has helped to facilitate the merger with Greencore Group. Simon is well qualified to lead the business through the merger period, ably supported by the strong leaders of our Branded and Chilled divisions».