Nestlé UK & Ireland has announced significant changes to its senior leadership team, appointing three new executives to steer its Coffee, Professional (Foodservice), and Technical operations. The reshuffle sees internal talent rotated into key strategic roles to drive growth across the FMCG giant's core categories.
Coffee Division: Katya Simmons
Katya Simmons has been appointed as Managing Director, Coffee, moving from her previous role leading the Nestlé Professional division.
Simmons brings over two decades of experience within the company, having started at Nestlé Russia in 2002. She moved to the UK in 2017 and has led Nestlé Professional UK & Ireland since 2018. During her seven-year tenure in the foodservice arm, she is credited with transforming the business model under "Project MORE" and reinforcing the division's commitment to sustainability and youth skills through the Toque d’Or competition.
In her new role, Simmons will apply her broad omni-channel marketing and commercial experience to the retail coffee sector, a critical revenue driver for the market.
"Coffee has an exciting future ahead of it and I am privileged and proud to be part of the team taking it forward," Simmons commented.
Nestlé Professional: Lorenzo Vigano
Succeeding Simmons is Lorenzo Vigano, who has been appointed Managing Director, Nestlé Professional UK & Ireland.
Vigano arrives with a strong track record in the Out-of-Home (OOH) sector. He previously served as Managing Director for Nestlé Professional Turkey, where he rapidly grew the business to become the division's 10th largest market globally. His background also includes leading the Beverage business across Europe and helping to architect the Coffee Global Business Strategy.
Vigano stated: "As we enter the new year, I’m energised by the opportunities ahead and committed to supporting our customers across hospitality and foodservice."
Technical & Production: Martin Krohn
Martin Krohn joins the UK & Ireland team as Head of Technical & Production, transferring from the European Zone where he led confectionery manufacturing for the KitKat & Wafer Cluster.
Krohn’s remit will include direct responsibility for Coffee, Confectionery, and Food factories. Significantly, his operational oversight extends to the company's direct-to-consumer (DTC) operations, including Mindful Chef and Simply Cook. Krohn, who joined Nestlé in 2005, is known for his expertise in "Industrial Performance" and manufacturing excellence.
"Safety and quality are paramount to all that we do at Nestlé, and I will continue to put this at the heart of the market," Krohn said regarding his appointment.
Nestlé UK & Ireland Announces Strategic Leadership Reshuffle with Trio of Senior Appointments
