US food group Sara Lee has appointed telecoms executive Marcel Smits as its CFO.


The appointment will come into effect on 1 October, when Smits will assume responsibility for Sara Lee’s accounting, tax, treasury, procurement and information technology departments. He will report to directly to CEO Brenda Barnes.


“Marcel brings great finance, leadership and international expertise, and we’re delighted to have him join our team,” said Barnes. “He’s a seasoned professional with broad experience in consumer packaged goods and retail and we expect him to quickly contribute to our finance, operations and global business strategy.”


Smits joins Sara Lee from Dutch telecom leader Koninklijke, where he served as chief financial officer and as a member of the management board.


He has also held the post of CFO of Dutch retail group Vendex, as well as holding various financial and management positions at Unilever in Europe, South America and Asia.

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 - Have you nominated?

Nominations are now open for the prestigious Just Food Excellence Awards - one of the industry's most recognised programmes celebrating innovation, leadership, and impact. This is your chance to showcase your achievements, highlight industry advancements, and gain global recognition. Don't miss the opportunity to be honoured among the best - submit your nomination today!

Nominate Now