Samworth Brothers has named a new chief executive as Hugo Mahoney departs to pursue other opportunities after just over two years in post.

Simon Wookey has been promoted from chief commercial officer and will assume the role of British food manufacturer company’s CEO from 1 July.

Wookey has had a 35-year career in the food industry, including 20 years at supermarket sandwich supplier Greencore, holding a variety of senior commercial and managing director positions, before joining Samworth Brothers as a board director in January.

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Samworth Brothers chairman Mark Samworth said: “Under Hugo’s leadership the business continued its recovery from Covid and its aftermath and rose to the challenge of successfully managing and mitigating significant inflationary pressures.

“With the executive team, he has re-set our business strategy and has refined our operating model and ways of working to help us better act as one Samworth Brothers with our customers and suppliers.

“Samworth Brothers is well positioned for the future, and in the years to come the business will benefit from his development of our modernisation programme. Hugo has made a significant contribution to the performance of our business, and we wish him every success in the future.”