• Denis Phelps (left) has been announced as chief customer officer and Gerard Smith (right) as chief marketing officer for Freedom Foods Group. CEO Michael Perich says the two complete the group’s “comprehensive renewal of the senior leadership team”. 
Source: FFG website
    Denis Phelps (left) has been announced as chief customer officer and Gerard Smith (right) as chief marketing officer for Freedom Foods Group. CEO Michael Perich says the two complete the group’s “comprehensive renewal of the senior leadership team”. Source: FFG website
Close×

Freedom Foods Group CEO Michael Perich says the two latest executive appointments complete the group’s “comprehensive renewal of the senior leadership team”.

Denis Phelps has been announced as chief customer officer and Gerard Smith as chief marketing officer.

Phelps was most recently country manager for Danone in Cambodia. The CCO role is a new one for FFG, with Phelps leading customer and category strategies across the group. He brings more than 25 years FMCG experience to the role, having worked for Danone, Unilever and The Clorox Company.

As CMO Smith will lead marketing, innovation and sustainability. Perich said he also brings digital strategy experience to the role, having previously worked for Lion, Goodman Fielder and PepsiCo, where he was vice president marketing Global Snacks Portfolio. 

Phelps and Smith round out a year of executive rebuilding including CFO Josée Lemoine, COO Stuart Muir, chief people and culture officer Fiona McGregor, group general counsel and company secretary Justin Cross, and general manager internal audit Tim Phoon.

The company’s FY21 results will be released on 30 August.

Packaging News

Foodcare is set to acquire UPAC, a manufacturer and distributor of food packaging including printed bags and flexibles, in a move the company says will strengthen its offering in the packaging sector.

East Coast Canning has signed a strategic partnership with Sweden-based packaging technology company Meadow to bring the MEADOW KAPSUL resealable aluminium can system to ANZ.

Little Green Panda has secured backing from Everkind, a sustainable investment vehicle backed by entrepreneurs in the packaging industry and owners of Qld-based Shawparth Food & Packaging.