Global supplier of food products Tate & Lyle plc has announced the appointment of David Hearn as a director and chair of the Board of Tate & Lyle from 1st January 2024. On appointment, Hearn will also become chair of the Nominations Committee.
The company described David Hearn as a “highly experienced chair both of listed companies and privately owned businesses.” He currently serves as chair of Safestore Holdings plc and is also chair of The a2 Milk Company, a company listed on the New Zealand and Australian Stock Exchanges, a position he will step down from on 16th November 2023. He is a non-executive director of Lovat Partners Ltd.
With a career spanning more than 40 years, David has held senior roles in a number of global businesses, including in the food and beverage industry with Del Monte, PepsiCo and United Biscuits. David served as chief executive officer (CEO) of Goodman Fielder, a listed Australian food business, from 1995 to 2001 and also as CEO of Cordiant Group plc in the US from 2001 to 2003.
In 2005, he was appointed CEO of Committed Capital, an international private equity and advisory firm based in London and Sydney, for whom he acted as chair of a wide range of portfolio businesses over a 12-year period.
David Hearn will succeed Warren Tucker who has been interim chair since 1st September 2023. Warren will continue to serve as a non-executive director and chair of the Audit Committee after he steps down as interim chair.
Paul Forman, senior independent director, who led the search for the new chair, will retire from the Board on 31st December 2023 and Kim Nelson will take up the position of senior independent director of Tate & Lyle from 1st January 2024.
Meeting consumer demand
Commenting on David’s appointment, Warren Tucker, interim chair, said: “The Board is delighted that David Hearn will be joining Tate & Lyle as chair in January. David’s breadth of experience, skills and knowledge, particularly of the food industry, will complement and further strengthen Tate & Lyle’s Board. I look forward to working closely with him to ensure a smooth handover during the coming weeks.”
David Hearn said: “I am delighted to take on the role of chair of Tate & Lyle at what is an exciting time for the business. Tate & Lyle is a business with a deep sense of purpose, in a strong financial position, which puts its customers at the heart of everything it does. I look forward to working with the Board, Nick Hampton and the leadership team to deliver on the Company’s growth agenda.”
Nick Hampton, chief executive, said: “We look forward to welcoming David to Tate & Lyle and to working with him to deliver on our strategy to create solutions that meet growing consumer demand for healthier, tastier and more sustainable food and drink.
“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Warren Tucker for his diligent leadership of the Board during this interim period, and also to thank Paul Forman for his leadership of the chair succession process, his service as the senior independent director, and for his significant contribution to the Tate & Lyle Board over the last nine years.”
