UK flour and bread company Hovis appoints former Müller exec Jon Jenkins as new CEO

UK – Jon Jenkins, a former Müller UK & Ireland CEO, is set to take over leadership at leading UK bread and flour company Hovis from interim CEO Robert Higginson.

Jenkins brings over 30 years of experience in the FMCG sector into his new role, including from his most recent post at Müller and 15 years at Associated British Foods. 

“Hovis is an iconic British brand with a loyal following and a place in the heart of many homes,” said Jenkins. “I am proud and excited to lead the brand and be part of its future.”

At the end of 2020, the bakery brand was acquired by private equity firm Endless for an undisclosed sum.

 “Under the ownership of Endless and with a strong foundation already in place, I am excited to work with the team in delivering the next stage of growth for the brand,” Jenkins added.

Aidan Robson, a partner at Endless, said: “We are delighted to have Jon join the Hovis leadership team and believe his experience in the FMCG industry as well as in the bakery industry will be invaluable”.

United Natural Foods creates new executive position

Meanwhile, Rhode Island, United States-based grocery wholesaler United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) has hired Erin Horvath as chief supply chain transformation officer.

Ms. Horvath was most recently chief transformation officer for AmerisourceBergen and has held various leadership roles in her 17 years with the company.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from George Washington University and a master’s in business administration from Villanova University.

In her newly created role, Ms. Horvath will oversee the transformation of UNFI’s fulfillment network and will lead the company’s automation initiatives.

“Erin has a wealth of experience, including a unique combination of strategy execution, operations, customer analytics, and software implementation,” said Sandy Douglas, chief executive officer for UNFI.

“Throughout her career, she has successfully worked across teams and departments and I’m looking forward to seeing how her experience and fresh thinking can best support Mark Bushway, our chief supply chain officer, and Louis Martin, our chief strategy and transformation officer, as they partner together to drive positive results.”