European dairy giant Arla Foods has announced that its CFO Natalie Knight is to leave the business next February.

She has accepted the role of executive vice president, finance, of Dutch-Belgian retail group Ahold Delhaize. It was announced yesterday Ahold Delhaize’s current CFO Jeff Carr is to join UK-based consumer goods group Reckitt Benckiser as finance chief.

The search for Knight’s successor at Arla has begun.

She joined Arla in January 2016. Denmark-based Arla said that during her tenure as CFO Arla has “strengthened its balance sheet, delivering strong cash flow and net working capital, which has enabled Arla Foods to fund significant investments in developing global market positions for its brands and Arla Foods Ingredients business as well as expand revenue in growth categories”. 

Arla CEO Peder Tuborgh said: “I would like to recognise and thank Natalie for the contribution that she has made to the progress of Arla Foods over the last four years and for the support she has given to me and the rest of my executive management Team, during her time with us. Whilst it is always sad to see talented people move on, I congratulate her on her new role and wish her well in her future career.”

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Tuborgh has confirmed that he is conducting a search process to find Natalie Knight’s successor and that the timing of her move, means that she will be in place to see the completion and reporting of Arla’s 2019 annual accounts.

Knight said: “It has been a privilege to be CFO of such a progressive and strong co-operative as Arla Foods and I am proud of the achievements that we have made over the last four years, particularly in our ability to continue to drive strong global branded growth, whilst simultaneously implementing our Calcium transformation programme.”

From the just-food archive: Arla CFO Knight on battles with Brexit, Chinese regulators and added sugar – the just-food interview