Jacob’s picks new business unit managers as revamp continues

Jacob’s Bakery has appointed three general managers to head its newly created business units, as part of an ongoing restructure.

The new general managers will be responsible for marketing, production, planning and new product development.

Purchasing director Chris Clemmow will be handling the plain and savoury biscuits unit, taking over the marketing responsibilities held by Anne Ozminskyj, while Wigston factory manager Norman Phillips takes charge of the sweet biscuits unit, formerly the domain of Mark Holdaway.

The Danone subsidiary is to close its Reading headquarters in order to cut costs, and will relocate to its Aintree factory site. Holdaway and Ozminskyj are understood to have declined posts at Aintree and are expected to leave the company later this year.

Melvin Jay, marketing manager for countlines, is moving to Ovaltine makers Wander as marketing director (MW April 12). He will be replaced by Craig Walker, formerly with the Danone group in Paris.

An insider says: “The biscuit market is in a gradual decline and this is a positive solution to that problem. Jacob’s had to do something more radical than just launching a new product or spending more on advertising.”