External Board Chairman in Orkla Foods Europe

Xavier Belison and Kjersti Hobøl have been appointed as chairman and member, respectively, of the Board of Directors of Orkla Foods Europe.

On 1 March, Orkla ASA was established as an investment company with 12 autonomous portfolio companies. Some of the companies – such as Orkla Foods Europe – will have external Board members.

Xavier Belison was appointed today as Chairman of the Board of Orkla Foods Europe. He has had no prior connection with Orkla.

Mr Belison, who is a French national, has top leader experience from Continental Foods, Heineken and Mars. At present, he is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Groupe Panzani and Partner in Pet Food. He will be joined on the Board of Directors by Kjersti Hobøl, who has also been recruited from outside the Orkla group to sit on the Board of the portfolio company. Ms Hobøl is CEO of Nille AS and has previous top leader experience from Kid, DNB and Princess. She is currently member of the Board of Directors of Elektroimportøren, Aspelin Ramm, Byggmax and XXL Sport og Villmark.

In addition to Mr Belison and Ms Hobøl, Orkla Foods Europe’s Board of Directors will consist of Atle Vidar Nagel Johansen, Øyvind Torpp and Hege Holter Brekke, all of whom are EVPS and Investment Executives at Orkla ASA. There will also be two employee representatives, who have yet to be chosen. Orkla President and CEO Nils K. Selte and CFO Harald Ullevoldsæter will sit on the Board as observers.

“I am very pleased that Xavier and Kjersti have accepted the offer to serve on the Board of Directors of Orkla Foods Europe. Xavier has solid international experience from several branded goods companies, and has created good results for shareholders for many years. He also has experience from private equity (PE), as both Board Chairman and CEO of PE-owned companies. Kjersti has headed two successful change processes, in Nille and Kid. Moreover, she has extensive experience of driving active ownership, and she has broad board experience. Along with our investment professionals and employee representatives, they will constitute a very strong Board of Directors,” affirms Nils K. Selte, President and CEO of Orkla ASA.

“I feel delighted and honored to join the board of such a prestigious company made of great people and brands,” says Xavier Belison.

Orkla Foods Europe is the largest, wholly-owned portfolio company in Orkla. In 2022, the company had a turnover of NOK 17.8 billion and operating profit of NOK 2 billion. At year end, the company had approx. 6.000 employees in 12 countries. Paul Jordahl is CEO of the company.

Orkla Foods Europe offers well-known local brands to consumers in the Nordic region, the Baltics and Central Europe. The products are primarily sold through the grocery channel, but the company also hold strong positions in the out-of-home, convenience store and petrol station sectors. The many popular brands in the portfolio include Grandiosa, TORO, Stabburet, Fun Light, Felix, Paulúns, Abba, Kalles, Beauvais, Den Gamle Fabrik, Hamé and Vitana.