Masterfoods UK chief lands top Japan job
Masterfoods managing director for UK snack-foods David Teasdale has been promoted to head the company’s Japanese arm. It is understood that he will take over the role this autumn.
Teasdale will be responsible for overseeing the company’s pet-food, food and snack-food divisions. It is understood that Masterfoods is seeking a replacement for him in the UK.
The changes are thought to be part of the company’s restructure, which was announced earlier this year following a European consultation. The review involves more than 11,000 employees and will lead to the loss of about 1,000 jobs across the continent. There will be 700 redundancies in the UK and marketing is likely to be affected (MW March 17).
Teasdale joined the UK business in 2002 from the company’s Canadian operation. He started as marketing director for confectionery and ice-cream and was later promoted to marketing director for snack-foods. Earlier this year, he became managing director of the division, but retained his marketing duties (MW February 17).
Masterfoods began importing and marketing Pedigree pet-food in Japan in 1976. Over the past 20 years, it has expanded the range of products it sells to include Kit-e-Kat, Maltesers, Skittles and the Flavia drinks range. Masterfoods’ Japanese arm is based in Meguro, Tokyo and it has a regional sales office in Osaka.
