McCain Foods Limited’s Board of Directors has unanimously approved the appointment of Max Koeune to the role of President and CEO effective November 1st, 2017. Koeune will succeed Dirk Van de Put, who is leaving the business after seven years in the role of President and CEO to continue his successful career as CEO of Mondelēz International. Koeune, will assume the role of CEO-designate with immediate effect, and then the role of President and CEO in November 2017.
Koeune commented “I am honoured to be selected to lead this great company. McCain Foods’ performance has gone from strength to strength in recent years. I am grateful to Dirk for all he has done, and proud to have worked with him and the Senior Leadership Team to set such a strong purpose, vision and strategy for our business. I am dedicated to continuing this transformational journey and driving for the results that I know McCain can realize.”
Koeune joined McCain Foods as Chief Financial Officer in 2012 and through his leadership, financial management has greatly progressed. He has played a lead role in the development and delivery of a very successful global growth and transformation strategy, organically and through acquisitions.
Former CEO Van de Put said: “As I’ve said so many times before, it really is the McCain people who make this company so great, which is also why I take immense pleasure in handing the baton over to one of our own. Max’s appointment shows first-hand the cultivation of our own talent and the importance of clear succession planning. I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Max for many years, and I know that his deep industry knowledge, expertise, and commitment to the business make him the ideal custodian of this very special business.”
McCain Foods Limited is an international leader in the frozen food industry and the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen potato products, employing approximately 20,000 people and operating 51 production facilities on six continents. A privately-owned company based in Canada, McCain generates annual sales in excess of $9 billion. The company’s products can be found in restaurants and retail stores in over 160 countries around the world.
Allison McCain, Chairman, said: “I want to thank Dirk for his outstanding leadership and dedication to McCain. Dirk has proven himself to be a visionary leader over the past seven years – leading our journey to create the ‘new McCain’ and return this business to sustained profitable growth. As we celebrate our third consecutive record year, we all agree that it’s been a very successful journey, and one that I know will be continued by his successor.”
