McCain Foods CFO Max Koeune is to become the frozen food maker’s president and CEO in November, succeeding Dirk Van de Put who is leaving the Canada-based company after seven years at the helm.

Koeune, who joined the privately-owned Canadian firm in 2012 as CFO, will become the CEO-designate immediately, the company said in a statement yesterday (1 August), adding Van de Put will continue his career outside of McCain, without disclosing his next position.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Responding to his appointment, Koeune said: “I am honoured to be selected to lead this great company. I am dedicated to continuing this transformational journey and driving the results that I know McCain can achieve.”

Van de Put said: “Max’s appointment shows first-hand the cultivation of our own talent and the importance of clear succession planning. I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Max for many years, and I know that his deep industry knowledge, expertise, and commitment to the business make him the ideal custodian of this very special business.”

Van De Put, whose career includes roles at Danone and Mars, joined McCain as COO in 2010.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact