Tate & Lyle poaches Unilever veteran for chief executive

Tate & Lyle has poached a food industry veteran from Unilever, appointing Iain Ferguson as chief executive after a nine-month search.

Mr Ferguson, 47, will take over as head of the starch and sweeteners' company in May. He is currently senior vice-president, corporate development at Unilever, responsible for strategy and new business development. He previously ran Unilever's Birds Eye Walls ice cream and frozen food business and has more than 25 years' experience of the agricultural and food industries.

Tate & Lyle said it had searched internationally for a replacement for Larry Pillard, an American, who left after five years at the helm to join Tetra Laval Group, the private packaging group.

A spokesman said Tate & Lyle had been impressed by Mr Ferguson's broad experience, with branded and commodity products, manufacturing and the food industry. He took a science degree from St Andrew's University, before joining Unilever in 1977. It is thought that his pay will be similar to Mr Pillard's, who was on a basic salary of £605,000. Sir David Lees, chairman of Tate & Lyle, said: "We are delighted that Iain Ferguson will be joining us. His years of experience with a first-class international company, his knowledge of the global food industry and his background in science and technology make him an ideal person to lead Tate & Lyle through the next phase of its development."

Key among the challenges Mr Ferguson will have to tackle is the continuation of a programme to integrate the group's businesses and its cost-savings targets.