EU: Sara Lee to shake-up international management structure

By just-food.com | 21 March 2007

Sara Lee announced yesterday (20 March) that it intends to simplify the management structure of its international business, eliminating a layer of management in Sara Lee International. The group has initiated the information-sharing and consultation process with relevant European works councils.

Sara Lee's International business includes the global Household & Body Care, International Beverage and International Bakery segments. In the new structure, Vincent Janssen, chief executive officer, Household & Body Care, and Frank van Oers, chief executive officer, Coffee & Tea, will report directly to Sara Lee chairman and CEO Brenda C. Barnes. Sara Lee's International Bakery segment, led by Miguel Llado, group president bakery Europe, will report to Van Oers. The company will eliminate various management roles, including the position of International CEO, which is currently held by Adriaan Nühn.

Implementation of the organisational changes will be overseen by Nühn and his executive team. It is expected that the process will be completed by December, 2007.

"Simplifying our international management structure will keep the focus of our businesses as close to the customer as possible and, as a result, will strengthen our competitiveness and performance in an evolving global marketplace," said Barnes.

The businesses will continue to be headquartered in the Netherlands. The local management structures in each country/region will remain unchanged.

Companies: Sara Lee