'%20id='ico-down'%20stroke='%23000000'%20stroke-width='1.5'%3e%3cg%20transform='translate(1092.250000,%20254.750000)'%3e%3cpolyline%20id='Path-2-Copy-4'%20transform='translate(5.500000,%202.750000)%20scale(1,%20-1)%20rotate(-180.000000)%20translate(-5.500000,%20-2.750000)%20'%20points='0%200%205.5%205.5%2011%200'%3e%3c/polyline%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
Switzerland’s Barry Callebaut, the world’s top chocolate maker, on Wednesday said Unilever Foods boss Antoine de Saint-Affrique would take over as its new chief executive in October.
The Frenchman will succeed Juergen Steinemann, who has headed the firm since 2009, on October 1, the company said.
Steinemann had announced last year that he would step down, citing family reasons.
He will however remain vice-president of Barry Calleabaut’s board, a post he was elected to in December.
“With Antoine de Saint-Affrique, the board has appointed a new CEO with an impressive track record in the food industry,” a statement said.
Born in 1964, Saint-Affrique has held a series of top jobs in the sector. Apart from being Unilever Foods head, he is also a non-executive director of Essilor, a leading lens-maker.
noo/ach/hmn