GrainCorp chief executive Alison Watkins is set to replace Terry Davis as Coca-Cola Amatil's managing director after resigning on the back of the failed takeover by Archer Daniels Midland (ADM).
Watkins announced her resignation from GrainCorp after the proposed $3.4 billion takeover was rejected by the Treasurer Joe Hockey on Friday. She said she'd planned to leave the company when control passed over to ADM anyway.
Soon after, Coca-Cola Amatil Limited announced Watkins' appointment as its group managing director.
Watkins, who has been with GrainCorp for three and a half years, will leave the company by the end of January, and take up her new position at CCA on 3 March next year.
CCA chairman David Gonski said Watkins has had a highly successful operations and management background across many industries, having delivered impressive results across the food and beverages, retail and finance sectors.
Prior to her role at GrainCorp, CCA held a number of executive roles including CEO of Berri Limited, and she is also a former partner of McKinsey & Company and a non-executive director of Woolworths.
“I believe Alison’s skills and background will assist CCA to deliver strong performance outcomes from our existing operations and progress the strong development opportunities in our emerging businesses. The board is confident that Alison’s leadership credentials and focus on excellence position her well to drive further development and growth across the CCA Group,” Gonski said.
Watkins said: “I am excited by this opportunity. I believe my career and experience to date puts me in an excellent position to lead CCA in its next chapter of growth, building on the successes achieved under the leadership of Terry Davis.”
CCA’s current group managing director, Terry Davis, will remain available for advice and special projects to Watkins and the board until the end of August 2014.
Alison Watkins is leaving GrainCorp to become group managing director of CCA.
