Tate & Lyle PLC has announced the appointment of David Hearn as a director and chair of the board of Tate & Lyle from 1 January 2024. On appointment, he will also become chair of the nominations committee.
Hearn is a highly experienced chair both of listed companies and privately owned businesses. He currently serves as chair of Safestore Holdings plc and is also chair of The a2 Milk Company, a company listed on the New Zealand and Australian stock exchanges: a position he will step down from on 16 November 2023. He is a non-executive director of Lovat Partners Ltd.
Hearn started his career in 1977 with Procter & Gamble before joining the food industry in 1984 as the CEO for Del Monte’s business in the UK and Ireland. He went on to hold senior roles in a number of global businesses, including PepsiCo, United Biscuits, Goodman Fielder (a listed Australian food business) and Cordiant Group plc in the US.
In 2005, Hearn was appointed CEO of Committed Capital, an international private equity and advisory firm based in London and Sydney, for whom he acted as chair of a wide range of portfolio businesses over a twelve-year period.
Hearn will succeed Warren Tucker, who has been interim chair since 1 September 2023. Tucker will continue to serve as a non-executive director and chair of the audit committee after he steps down as interim chair.
Nick Hampton, Tate & Lyle’s chief executive, said: “We look forward to welcoming David to Tate & Lyle and to working with him to deliver on our strategy to create solutions that meet growing consumer demand for healthier, tastier and more sustainable food and drink.”