Board Changes

20 Jul 2006 07:01

Dairy Crest Group PLC20 July 2006 20th July 2006 Dairy Crest Group plc Board Changes Dairy Crest Group plc today announces that Drummond Hall, Chief Executive, willtake early retirement from the Board at the end of December 2006. As part of aplanned succession process, Mark Allen, currently Executive Managing Director ofDairy Crest's Dairies Division will succeed Drummond as Chief Executive witheffect from 1 January 2007. Drummond will stay on in a part time capacity untilthe end of April 2007. Drummond has been with the Group for 15 years during which time he has beeninvolved in all stages of the Company's development. He joined the Group as anexecutive director in September 1991 and was appointed Chief Executive in July2002. In these roles Drummond has led the Group's successful strategy to growthe branded and added value side of the business. Drummond will be 57 inSeptember and wishes to step back from a full time executive role to pursue arange of interests, both personal and business related. Mark Allen, 47, has been an executive director of Dairy Crest since July 2002.He joined Dairy Crest in 1991 and, prior to his current role, Mark ran both thehousehold and cheese businesses where he played a major part in both thesuccessful growth of Dairy Crest's market leading cheddar brand, Cathedral City,and the redevelopment of the Davidstow site. Simon Oliver, Chairman of Dairy Crest, said: "I would like to thank Drummond for his considerable contribution to Dairy Crestover the last 15 years. Throughout his time with Dairy Crest Drummond has playeda key role in developing the Group's successful strategy to grow the branded andadded value side of the business. This has delivered strong shareholder returnssince the Group's flotation in 1996 and he will leave Dairy Crest well placedfor the future. Mark has been a key member of a strong management team and has had major rolesacross both the Dairies and Foods Divisions, which will make the transition asmooth one. We shall be sad to see Drummond go and we wish him well in his retirement. Weknow however that with Mark as his successor the Group will be in strong handsto continue its development." Enquiries: Dairy Crest Group plc Nicole Lander, Media 07801 235756Will Shaw, Investors 07919 568498 Brunswick William Cullum / Laura Cummings 020 7404 5959 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange