• Denis Phelps (left) has been announced as chief customer officer and Gerard Smith (right) as chief marketing officer for Freedom Foods Group. CEO Michael Perich says the two complete the group’s “comprehensive renewal of the senior leadership team”. 
Source: FFG website
    Denis Phelps (left) has been announced as chief customer officer and Gerard Smith (right) as chief marketing officer for Freedom Foods Group. CEO Michael Perich says the two complete the group’s “comprehensive renewal of the senior leadership team”. Source: FFG website
Close×

Freedom Foods Group CEO Michael Perich says the two latest executive appointments complete the group’s “comprehensive renewal of the senior leadership team”.

Denis Phelps has been announced as chief customer officer and Gerard Smith as chief marketing officer.

Phelps was most recently country manager for Danone in Cambodia. The CCO role is a new one for FFG, with Phelps leading customer and category strategies across the group. He brings more than 25 years FMCG experience to the role, having worked for Danone, Unilever and The Clorox Company.

As CMO Smith will lead marketing, innovation and sustainability. Perich said he also brings digital strategy experience to the role, having previously worked for Lion, Goodman Fielder and PepsiCo, where he was vice president marketing Global Snacks Portfolio. 

Phelps and Smith round out a year of executive rebuilding including CFO Josée Lemoine, COO Stuart Muir, chief people and culture officer Fiona McGregor, group general counsel and company secretary Justin Cross, and general manager internal audit Tim Phoon.

The company’s FY21 results will be released on 30 August.

Packaging News

Australia's environment ministers have declared packaging reform urgent and named soft plastics as an initial priority, but offered no firm timetable or regulatory commitments. SPSA has welcomed the soft plastics focus, while Boomerang Alliance and WMRR have raised concerns about the lack of concrete action.

Economic analysis commissioned by SPSA estimates national recycling reforms could deliver up to $278m in net productivity gains and stimulate up to $2.6b in capital investment each year.

A cross-sector open letter is urging national leaders to agree on a pathway for regulated producer responsibility schemes at the September Environment Ministers Meeting.