Compleat Food Group has appointed Sue Bell as its chief technical officer, a new position aimed at strengthening the senior leadership team.

The business is a major food manufacturer, operating a portfolio of brands under its umbrella, including Wrights and Freshpak.

Bell brings extensive food industry experience to the role, having served at Marks & Spencer for 32 years.

Additionally, she has worked as an independent consultant to food manufacturing and hospitality businesses, including FareShare UK and Whitbread.

Bell will report directly to CEO Nick Field and will be in charge of the technical, ESG and Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) functions.

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“The Compleat Food Group has been growing rapidly, and there are ambitions to continue this trajectory, so it is a really exciting time to be joining the team,” she said.

“With my extensive background in retail and more recent experience in both the manufacturing and hospitality sectors, I am keen to enable the many talented colleagues in the Technical, ESG (environmental, social and governance) and SHE (safety, health and environment) functions to support this growth agenda and make meaningful, fulfilling contributions to the group.”

Her appointment marks the first time these functions have been consolidated at the Group’s board level.

The moves follows former Mars exec Nick Reade’s appointment as UK managing director as the group further develops its leadership capabilities.