Former Natures Way chief executive Susan Barratt has been appointed as Joanne Denney-Finch’s successor at the food and grocery research charity IGD.
Barratt, who has a wealth of national and international experience in FMCG, will take her position as the organisation’s new chief executive on 1 January, following the departure of Denney-Finch who stepped down in September.
“I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to lead IGD,” she said. “Joanne Denney-Finch has left an impressive legacy on which to build.”
The new IGD chief’s tenure at Natures Way saw her lead the prepared salad and fruit supplier for more than a decade, doubling turnover and developing strong relationships with both retailers and food service companies.
Prior to this, Barratt was chief executive of the Eldridge Pope brewery and held senior roles at hospitality mutinational Whitbread and shipping line Geest.
She is currently a non-executive director at soft drinks brand AG Barr and pie manufacturer Higgidy, as well as serving on the IGD board as a trustee since 2016.
Morrisons chairman Andrew Higginson, who will soon replace Coca-Cola’s Leendert Den Hollander as IGD’s president, said: “At a time of real challenges and opportunities for the food and grocery industry, Susan’s appointment as CEO is excellent news.
“I look forward to working with her and seeing the impact I am confident she will make. She brings with her strong commercial experience spanning the industry and I am sure that her background in managing and developing retailer relationships, coupled with a strong manufacturing and food service background, will be a real asset to IGD.”
