MONTREAL — Saputo Inc. (“Saputo” or “the Company”) (SAP.TO) announces today an appointment in its senior management team following the acquisition of Dairy Crest Group plc (“Dairy Crest”) on April 15, 2019.
Following a mutually agreed upon decision and the successful completion of the transaction, Mr. Mark Allen is stepping down as Chief Executive of Dairy Crest. As such, Mr. Tom Atherton, Dairy Crest Deputy Chief Executive and Group Finance Director, is appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of Saputo’s Dairy Division (UK). This appointment, effective immediately, follows the succession plans set forth by the Division.
Mr. Atherton has worked for Dairy Crest since 2005. He was appointed as an Executive Director and Group Finance Director in 2013 and has also held the position of Deputy Chief Executive since January 2018. In his role, he has been instrumental in determining the strategic direction of Dairy Crest. Previously, Mr. Atherton held senior management positions within publicly-listed companies in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Atherton will report to Mr. Kai Bockmann, President and Chief Operating Officer, Saputo Inc. and International Sector. Mr. Allen will remain with the Company to ensure a transition to Mr. Atherton until July 2019.
About Saputo
Saputo produces, markets, and distributes a wide array of dairy products of the utmost quality, including cheese, fluid milk, extended shelf-life milk and cream products, cultured products and dairy ingredients. Saputo is one of the top ten dairy processors in the world, the largest cheese manufacturer and the leading fluid milk and cream processor in Canada, the top dairy processor in Australia and the second largest in Argentina. In the USA, Saputo ranks among the top three cheese producers and is one of the largest producers of extended shelf-life and cultured dairy products. In the United Kingdom, Saputo is the largest branded manufacturer of cheese and a top manufacturer of dairy spreads. Our products are sold in several countries under well-known brand names such as Saputo, Alexis de Portneuf, Armstrong, Cathedral City, Clover, COON, Cracker Barrel*, Dairyland, DairyStar, Devondale, Friendship Dairies, Frigo Cheese Heads, La Paulina, Milk2Go/Lait’s Go, Montchevre, Murray Goulburn Ingredients, Neilson, Nutrilait, Scotsburn*, Stella, Sungold, Treasure Cave and Woolwich Dairy. Saputo Inc. is a publicly traded company and its shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “SAP”.
