Hilton Food Group plc has announced the appointment of Mark Allen OBE as a non-executive director and chair designate, with effect from 1 October 2024.

Allen will become chair of the food processing group’s board from 1 January 2025, at which time Robert Watson OBE will step down from the board, after more than 20 years with the business.

Allen, who has significant public company, consumer goods and food sector experience, will also join the nomination committee and assume the committee chair role at that time.

Allen is currently chair of drinks company AG Barr (maker of Irn-Bru), a role he took up in March 2022. He was previously CEO at Dairy Crest Group from 2007 to 2019 and has held non-executive director roles at Halo Foods, Warburtons, Dairy UK, Howden Joinery Group and Norcros, where he was chair.

Angus Porter, senior independent director, who oversaw the appointments process, commented: “On behalf of the board I am delighted to welcome Mark as Hilton Foods chair designate. We are confident that we have identified the right successor to the inestimable Robert Watson.

“Mark has a wealth of relevant experience in the consumer goods and food sectors and, through the search process, showed an outstanding appreciation of the Hilton Foods strategy and values. Robert’s contribution to Hilton Foods is immeasurable and on behalf of all Hilton’s people, our customers and investors I want to thank him for everything he has done to build this business into what it is today.”