Heiner Kamps, who founded German industrial bakery group Kamps, has resigned from his post as chairman of the chain.


Kamps was bought by Italian pasta maker Barilla earlier this year, in a hostile €1.7bn (US$1.68bn) takeover bid. Kamps was retained as head of the chain, but is now stepping down. He has indicated that he enjoyed insufficient freedom in his restructured role.


“As an entrepreneur, one needs corporate freedom,” he is quoted by the Financial Times as saying.


Kamps will be succeeded by Michael Kern, who is currently in charge of the German operations of Europcar, the car rental firm. His appointment will take effect from 1 January 2003.


Although Kamps is stepping down as chairman, he will remain involved in the business in a consulting capacity.

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“The market is in a consolidation process and new acquisitions are continuing to be on the agenda”, he said. In the next five years, he said, the German bread-making trade will be experiencing a generation change while at the same time competition will be growing.

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