Nomad Foods has announced a significant expansion of its senior leadership structure, creating two new regional President roles and a Chief Marketing Officer position. The restructuring is designed to sharpen commercial execution and accelerate growth across the company’s extensive European frozen food portfolio, which includes brands such as Birds Eye, Findus, and Iglo.
The new regional Presidents for Southern Europe and Central Europe will join the Executive Team, reporting directly to Chief Executive Officer Dominic Brisby. This move follows the recent appointment of Simon Ball as President of UK & Ireland in March 2026.
Southern Europe Operations
Jon Fernandez de Barrena will join Nomad Foods on April 13, 2026, as the inaugural President of Southern Europe. In this newly created capacity, Fernandez de Barrena will oversee commercial operations across France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and the Adriatic region.
Fernandez de Barrena joins the frozen food leader from Alvinesa Natural Ingredients, where he served as CEO. His appointment is intended to deepen market focus and improve local execution in a region that remains a cornerstone of Nomad Foods’ long-term strategic priorities.
Central Europe and the Nordic Regions
Nomad Foods has also confirmed plans to appoint a President for Central Europe later this year. This executive will be responsible for leading commercial operations in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Norway.
By splitting European operations into distinct regional hubs, the company aims to enhance agility and create greater alignment between local teams and centralised brand strategies. CEO Dominic Brisby noted that the new structure is an essential step in unlocking the full potential of these diverse markets.
Marketing and Innovation
In addition to the regional appointments, Nomad Foods is seeking a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) to join its executive team. The new CMO will lead a consolidated marketing organisation that integrates:
Brand development and communications
Research, Development, and Quality (RDQ)
Product innovation
The creation of this role signals a shift toward a more unified marketing function. By bringing RDQ and innovation under the remit of the CMO, the company intends to deliver stronger commercial outcomes and ensure that product development is more closely aligned with consumer insights and brand messaging.
The leadership overhaul reflects a broader industry trend toward regional specialisation within global food conglomerates. As frozen food demand remains resilient across Europe, Nomad Foods is positioning its management structure to better handle regional regulatory landscapes and localised consumer habits.
The ongoing recruitment for the Central Europe President and the CMO role suggests that the company is in a period of aggressive organisational transformation. Further details regarding these hires are expected to be announced once the appointments are finalised. This refined leadership model is designed to provide the necessary oversight to manage Nomad's growing portfolio, which currently includes market-leading brands like Aunt Bessie’s and Goodfella’s.
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