UK – Tim McLachlan is set to succeed Jon Pool as Chief Executive of The Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST), a London, UK-based independent qualifying body for food professionals.
McLachlan will succeed chief executive Jon Poole who has been serving the professional body as chief executive officer for over 12 years now.
He is set to join the Institute on 12 September and, following an introduction and handover with Jon Poole, will formally take up his new role from 12 October.
Commenting on McLachlan’s appointment, IFST president Helen Munday said: “We are delighted to have Tim starting as our new chief executive.
“IFST is in good health thanks to Jon Poole’s strong leadership and I am very confident that Tim is the right person to lead the Institute through the next phase in its growth.”
McLachlan has more than 14 years’ experience working in senior roles in the charity sector, most recently serving as chief executive of The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation. Prior to that, Tim was national director of services for Alzheimer’s Society.
“This is an exciting new opportunity for me. The breadth of activities that I can see the Institute is involved in, is impressive and I am really looking forward to working with the board, the executive team and IFST’s active members to deliver the Institute’s ambitious plans,” McLachlan said.
After his long and exciting career at IFST, Poole steps down to focus full-time on the consultancy role that he has been managing on a part time basis alongside his leadership position.
“IFST is in good health thanks to Jon Poole’s strong leadership and I am very confident that Tim is the right person to lead the Institute through the next phase in its growth.”
Commenting on his time in the role, Poole said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time leading IFST and working with such committed colleagues in the executive team, our Board of Trustees, our members and all of our stakeholders.
“The Institute continues to thrive and now is a good time to hand over the baton to a new chief executive to drive our strategy forward. I would like to thank all of those who I have had the pleasure of working with over these years for your wonderful support”
In other food and drink appointment news, Frozen finger food manufacturer Innovate Foods has appointed Chris Duke as its new head of operations.
Boasting 30 years of food manufacturer and processing experience, Duke joins the frozen food firm from Finnebrogue Artisan, where he spent the past four years as operations director.
Prior to this, he has held a number of operations roles across the food and drink industry, including head of operations for Bernard Matthews in 2017.
He has previously served as group operations director at Dawnfresh Seafoods from 2011 to 2017 and added value – operations director for Vion Food Group between 2008 and 2011.
Last month saw Marks & Spencer chief financial officer Eoin Tonge is to leave the retailer to join Associated British Foods as finance director.
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