Ex-Muller CEO to take the helm at 2 Sisters Food Group

Ronald Kers

The former global CEO of €6bn multinational dairy products producer Muller is to take the helm at 2 Sisters Food Group.

The West Midlands-based company has announced that Ronald Kers will join on June 1.

Kers brings with him more than two decades of experience at global FMCG companies including Nestle and Procter & Gamble.

He will replace Ranjit Singh in the role, who announced earlier this year that he would be stepping down from his position after 25 years at the helm, and he was subsequently appointed as president of 2 Sisters’ parent company Boparan Holdings.

The announcement follows a turbulent few months for the company, which was implicated in a food hygiene scandal following an investigation by The Guardian and ITV.

The investigation uncovered poor hygiene operations at the 2 Sisters’ chicken processing plant in West Bromwich.

The allegations led to the proposed closure of three of the company’s UK production facilities earlier this year, putting up to 900 jobs at risk.

It also emerged that shortly before Christmas, 2 Sisters had sent unsolicited boxes of biscuits to several MPs serving on environment, food and rural affairs committee.

Commenting on Kers’ appointment, Singh said: “This appointment underlines our serious intention to do what we say we’re going to do. I am pleased that Ronald is joining 2 Sisters as CEO and we will benefit from his tremendous experience working in many of the world’s leading global food businesses. The last 25 years has been all about growing 2 Sisters. Today we have reset our direction and we are focusing back on our core strengths and getting back to what we do best – delivering great value, great quality food for our customers.

“We have already started with our commitments to greater transparency, a stronger colleague voice, and simplifying a complex organisation. But there is so much more to do and Ronald can take the business performance to the next level.”

Kers said: “2 Sisters is an incredible company and I am pleased to take over from Ranjit and write the next chapter of its success story, one which is often overlooked. Under Ranjit’s leadership this business has grown from scratch to over £3.2bn turnover and has 23,000 employees working across 48 sites in various countries. It will be a privilege to work with such a successful entrepreneur.

“Ranjit and his team have built some strong foundations here and all colleagues should never forget how we help feed consumers in several countries every day with quality, affordable food. That is something to be extremely proud of. We are already the largest food business in the UK but what I would like to do now is, with the help of all colleagues, customers and other stakeholders, transform the business from good to great to being the best everywhere we operate.”

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