Danone has announced the appointment of Barry Callebaut head, Antoine de Saint-Affrique, as its new chief executive officer, effective 15 September 2021.
The decision follows Danone chief executive and chairman Emmanuel Faber stepping down from both roles within the space of two weeks.
He joins the food company from global chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut, where he held the position of CEO since October 2015.
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Before Barry Callebaut, de Saint-Affrique held senior positions at Unilever, including president of its food division. He also served as executive vice president of Unilever’s skin category.
The company will discuss the appointment of de Saint-Affrique to a member of the board at its next annual shareholder’s meeting in April 2022.
“As a board, we have delivered on our promise to search and find swiftly the best person to lead Danone through the next phase of our evolution,” said Danone chairman, Gilles Schnepp.
“This marks a new chapter of leadership and a continuation of how we, as a board, have been transitioning governance at the company for a few weeks already.
“We unanimously agree that Antoine de Saint-Affrique is a standout leader in the consumer goods world. He has a distinguished track record of innovation and delivery. Importantly, he brings the right blend of strategic vision, international consumer goods experience, and operational execution skills to Danone.”
De Saint-Affrique added: “I am proud and honoured to join and soon lead a company which has always been an inspiration for me.
“I believe Danone has significant potential to continue to shape and contribute to how people eat and drink globally, and I am looking forward to, together with all Danoners, the executive committee and the board, writing our next chapter of growth and further progressing Danone’s mission.”
