Hilton Food introduces regional COO roles amid ongoing executive reshuffle
Changes follow recent CEO departure and profit downgrade
UK – Hilton Food Group has rolled out a revised regional management framework that splits its global operations into Eastern and Western divisions, each overseen by a newly appointed chief operating officer.
The UK-based private-label producer said on January 8 that the restructuring is part of its continuing organisational evolution, coming shortly after a series of senior leadership changes at group level.
Earlier shifts at the top of the London-listed business set the context for the move, after chief executive Steve Murrells exited the company in late November following less than two years in the role.
Murrells’ departure followed that of former CEO Philip Heffer, who stepped down around two years earlier, leaving Hilton without a permanent chief executive for the second time in a relatively short period.
In response, chairman Mark Allen assumed executive chair responsibilities on an interim basis while the board evaluates longer-term leadership arrangements.
Western operations
As part of the new structure, Samy Zekhout has left his position as a non-executive director to take on the role of chief operating officer for Hilton Food’s Western region.
Zekhout will oversee business activities across the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Portugal, with responsibility for Canada to be added once the group progresses its expansion plans there.
Before joining Hilton in an executive capacity, Zekhout served as chief financial officer and deputy chief executive at Nomad Foods between 2018 and 2024.
His earlier career included more than 30 years at Procter and Gamble, where he held a range of senior roles covering international operations and corporate functions.
Eastern operations
For the Eastern region, Hilton has appointed Melanie Chambers, who is currently serving as chief executive for the group’s Asia-Pacific business.
Under the revised remit, Chambers will be responsible for operations in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Poland and Saudi Arabia, consolidating oversight of several growth markets.
She joined Hilton Food three years ago and has led the APAC division during a period marked by expansion and shifting consumer demand across the region.
Commenting on the appointments, Allen said the updated leadership model is intended to support the company’s strategic direction across both established territories and newer markets.
The latest changes follow a difficult trading period for Hilton Food, with the company acknowledging in November that market conditions remained under pressure.
Earlier that month, the group reduced its profit expectations for the 2025 financial year, citing a challenging outlook as it entered the new reporting period.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
