Published: 22/10/2017

Danone will combine the functions of chairman and chief executive officer. Emmanuel Faber, who has been c.e.o. since 2014, has been appointed chairman and CEO of Danone, effective Dec. 1.

Mr. Faber will succeed Franck Riboud as chairman. Mr. Riboud will become honorary chairman of Danone and continue to serve as a director of the company and member of the strategic committee of the board. Current director Benoît Potier, chairman and c.e.o. of Air Liquide, will succeed Mr. Riboud as chairman of the strategic committee.

“Today’s announcement reflects the culmination of a planned leadership transition process that I initiated for Danone’s top management three years ago and that has allowed the company, under Emmanuel Faber’s leadership, to enter a new development phase,” Mr. Riboud said. “Combining the chairman and c.e.o. roles will solidify this momentum, creating a direct bridge between the board and management that will enable the company to continue to execute on its strategy, speak with a unified voice and make decisions in an agile and transparent manner. Emmanuel’s experience, record of accomplishment and deep knowledge of our business make him an ideal choice to serve as chairman, and I have full trust that he will provide strong and stable leadership as Danone continues to evolve. I am proud and privileged to have chaired the board for the past 23 years of growth, and I am confident about the future of this truly unique and world-class company.”

Danone also has adjusted its executive committee structure to “promote efficient and agile decision-making against a backdrop of fast-moving industry trends,” the company said. The new streamlined executive committee will consist of three businesses and two functional leaders under Mr. Faber’s leadership.

Francisco (Paco) Camacho has been named executive vice-president, Essential Dairy and Plant-Based (E.D.P.). Mr. Camacho will lead the company’s worldwide E.D.P. business, including DanoneWave in North America, with the aim of “strengthening a unified category approach across all regions and accelerating the global roll-out of its new plant-based portfolio,” Danone said.

Henri Bruxelles will join the executive committee as executive vice-president, Waters and Africa. Mr. Bruxelles was most recently regional vice-president of Waters for Latin America.

Bridgette Heller, executive vice-president, Early Life Nutrition and Advanced Medical Nutrition, will assume responsibility for Access and Danone Communities in addition to her current responsibilities. She also will become co-leader of the Protein program.

Cécile Cabanis, executive vice-president and chief financial officer, will add Cycles, Procurement and Nature Sustainability to her scope of responsibility and will become executive vice-president and c.f.o., IS/IT, Cycles and Procurement.

Bertrand Austruy will continue in the role of executive vice-president, human resources and general secretary and lead the Danone Business Services (One Danone).

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