Weekly review: On the up
Fronterra, a new MD for analysis institute RSSL and the appointment
of a chief executive for newly-formed Innovia Films.
Fonterra and Nestle have announced the appointment of Juan Carlos Pestana to the position of chief executive officer of Dairy Partners Americas (DPA). Pestana is currently the country head of DPA Brazil and is a former managing director of New Zealand Milk (Americas). He starts his new role on January 1, 2005.
Pestana replaces Hugo Lanthemann, who is taking up a new position within the Nestle Group.
DPA is a 50/50 partnership between Fonterra and Nestle and was established in January 2003. The alliance now operates joint ventures in Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia.
Doede Vierstra is stepping down as a member of the board of management of Koninklijke Friesland Foods (Royal Friesland Foods), in order to accept the position of chief financial officer of Royal Wessanen.
Vierstra, who has held his position at Friesland since 2000, is due to take up his new job on 1 January 2005.
In the world of packaging, Mikko Kaukoranta, Huhtamaki's chief financial officer and executive committee member, left the Finnish packaging company on 30 September.
Timo Salonen, executive vice president and former CFO, has assumed the additional role of acting CFO until a successor to Kaukoranta has been appointed. Huhtamaki recorded net sales of €2.1 billion in 2003.
David Beeby is moving from his position of vice president of marketing and international sales at Alcan Packaging to become chief executive of Innovia Films, formerly the films business of the UCB Group.
Innovia Films was established on 1 October following the acquisition of the UCB films business by a consortium led by chairman Dennis Matthewman and Candover Partners. The company produces speciality Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) and Cellulose films with production sites in the UK, USA, Belgium and Australia.
And finally, Rich Pond has been appointed managing director of UK-based testing and analysis institute Reading Scientific Services Limited.Pond has worked in the food industry for a number of years. He started his career with US manufacturer General Mills, where he held a series of marketing and innovation roles in both the USA and UK.
He joined Warner Lambert in 1998 and has held various marketing and innovation positions with Warner Lambert, Pfizer and Cadbury Schweppes.
"RSSL is a great organisation and holds an admired position in the field of Scientific and technical outsourcing," he said.
"I am truly delighted to be in this new role and to have the opportunity to build on the success it has achieved by delivering science with service."
