News
Arla and Coca-Cola announce senior appointments
Arla Foods has appointed Bas Padberg (pictured left) as its new managing director (MD), following the departure of Ash Amirahmadi last week.
Padberg, currently vice-president of Arla Foods Southeast Asia, will take over as MD on 1 January 2024. During the interim until he joins, EVP of Europe Peter Giørtz-Carlsen will maintain the executive leadership of Arla’s UK business.
Commenting on Padberg’s appointment, Giørtz-Carlsen said: “I am delighted that Bas has accepted the opportunity to lead our skilled and engaged UK organisation, because he is a highly-trusted leader in Arla with a long track-record of building and sustaining a strong people-focused culture.
Leading Arla
“He is very experienced in creating value between our farmers and our strategic customers from his time in charge of our Dutch, Belgian and French business. I want to congratulate Bas on his appointment and am looking forward to working with him on delivering the exciting long-term strategy for our UK business.”
Amirahmadi will leave on 31 July 2023 after 19 years with the company. He leaves to become the chief executive of Sofina Foods Europe.
“Ash has been an integral profile and leader in our UK business for almost two decades, and we are sad to see him go. I want to thank him for his service to Arla and our farmers during his five years as Head of Arla UK,” Giørtz-Carlsen added.
“Perhaps his greatest achievement is that he leaves behind a strong team and a talented organisation who has been part of creating a leading food business, so the future is bright for Arla in the UK.”
Coca-Cola HBC appointment
This past week has also seen the appointment of Davide Franzetti (pictured right) as the new general manager Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company’s (HBC’s) island of Ireland operations.
Franzetti has worked for Coca-Cola HBC Italy since 2018 and has held a number of senior roles across the business, including modern trade director and most recently sales director.
He is to replace Miles Karemacher, who is to take up the role of general manager at Coca-Cola HBC Italy.
Commenting on his appointment, Franzetti said: “Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland has a long and rich history going back over 80 years and has a well-established reputation for strong portfolio development, a deep commitment to sustainability and sustained investment in its people and the communities it serves.
“I am honoured to be joining an incredible team of people, and look forward to playing my part in the development of local talent which contributes so strongly to The Coca-Cola System – from delivering the £17m/€20m investment into our Knockmore Hill production facility, to supporting the delivery of a well-functioning and efficient Deposit Return Scheme, the biggest change to waste collection in Ireland in a generation.”
