The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), the global body for the consumer goods industry, announced today that it has elected two new Co-Chairs for its Board: Denise Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer of Campbell Soup Company and Gareth Ackerman, Chairman of Pick n Pay. Morrison will chair the Manufacturer College of the Board while Ackerman will chair the Retailer College.

The pair will lead the CGF Board for two years, and replace outgoing Co-Chairs Dick Boer, President and Chief Executive Officer President and Chief Executive Officer President and Chief Executive Officer of Royal Ahold, and Paul Bulcke, Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé. In addition, Marc Bolland, Chief Executive Officer of Marks & Spencer, and Ian Cook, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Colgate Palmolive, have been appointed as the new Vice Co-Chairs (in the Retailer College and Manufacturer College respectively). Today’s announcement was made following the meeting of the CGF Board of Directors, which took place on the opening of its 59^th Annual Summit, in New York from the 24th to 26th June.

Delivering growth through change

The new Co-Chairs take responsibility at a fascinating time for the industry, as technology continues to revolutionise how businesses interact with each other, their customers and the wider world. They will work together to ensure that the CGF continues to deliver on its core mission – to lead the consumer goods industry, to drive positive societal change, and to improve business efficiency. It does this through focusing on several priority areas for the industry: environmental and social sustainability, product safety, health and wellness, and end-to-end value chain.

 Denise Morrison is President and Chief Executive Officer of Campbell Soup Company, a global food company that makes a range of products from high-quality soups, simple meals and snacks to packaged fresh foods and beverages. Prior to this, Denise held a number of positions at Campbell, including Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, leading the company’s U.S. and North American businesses, after having joined as Chief Customer Officer. For the past two years she has held the position of CGF Vice Co-Chair and will be the CGF’s first ever female Co-Chair.

Commenting on her election, Denise Morrison said: “I am excited by this opportunity to serve as Co-Chair to lead the Consumer Goods Forum's Board and drive the mission forward promoting ‘Better Lives through Better Business.’ The organization addresses some of the most important issues facing consumer goods companies globally. Seismic social, economic and technological shifts are transforming consumers’ expectations of companies and the products we make. By harnessing the collective efforts of our industry to build and sustain consumer trust, we have the opportunity to drive both growth and positive change by meeting the needs of people worldwide.”

Gareth Ackerman is Non-Executive Chairman of retail chain Pick n Pay Stores Ltd, one of Africa’s largest and most successful retailers. He is an experienced member of the CGF Board, having previously served as both Co-Chair and Vice Co-Chair.

Commenting on his election, Gareth Ackerman said: “I am delighted to have been elected co-chair of the Consumer Goods Forum.  Bringing together 400 businesses in 70 countries, with combined sales in excess of EUR 2.5 trillion, the Forum has a unique opportunity to harness the power of consumers to improve the lives of people across the globe.   I am particularly excited to be the first co-chair from Africa, home to the world’s fastest-growing population.  It is a continent of huge challenges yet almost limitless opportunity.  The Consumer Goods Forum is stronger for its African businesses.  And Africa will benefit from the work that the world’s best consumer businesses are leading on sustainability, health, product safety and our value chain and many other areas.”

Both Ms Morrison and Mr Ackerman emphasised their gratitude to Mr Boer and Mr Bulcke for their outstanding contribution to the CGF over the previous two years, and thanked them on behalf of the Board for their exceptional leadership. They have served as Vice Co-Chairs since June 2013, when they were elected at a meeting of the Board of Directors in Tokyo.