First Milk appoints Clive Sharpe as new chairman

First Milk’s new chairman is Clive Sharpe, who has wide experience in food manufacturing businesses.

Mr Sharpe has spent 35 years in businesses such as Quorn Foods, Burtons Biscuits, Golden Wonder and Homepride Foods.

Replacing Sir Jim Paice, Mr Sharpe takes charge at First Milk on 1 February, following approval from members in December for a leaner and more commercial board structure. 

“Clive is a highly experienced commercial leader with a track record of leading transformational change across a variety of branded and private label businesses,” said Nigel Evans, First Milk’s interim chairman and farmer director.

See also: Dairy co-op First Milk posts £25m loss

This is the latest in a number of high-profile appointments for the challenged farmer-owned business, including Kenny Bain, group operations director (ex-Unilever, ABF, Mars); Brian Mackie, chief operating officer (ex-Starbev/Molson Coors Europe, Maxxium Worldwide, Cott Corporation); and Carl Ravenhall, non-executive director (former managing director of Muller UK, Milk Link and Adams Foods).

Actions taken to significantly reduce costs, improve quality, and drive operational performance had delivered improved results, said the co-op.

Operating profits was £1.1m in the six months to 30 September 2015, an improvement of £8.7m in the same period on the previous year.

Debt had reduced to £39.7m at the end of November 2015, compared with £60.7m in March 2015. First Milk also negotiated refinancing the business in December.