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The Compleat Food Group has announced a further fortification of its senior leadership team, appointing industry veteran Sue Bell to the newly created role of Chief Technical Officer (CTO).

The move represents a strategic consolidation of the group’s operational oversight, bringing together the Technical, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), and Safety, Health & Environment (SHE) functions under a single board-level mandate for the first time.

Strategic Mandate and Board Consolidation

Reporting directly to CEO Nick Field, Bell’s appointment underlines the critical importance the group places on food safety, sustainability, and operational excellence as pillars of its growth strategy. By unifying these functions at the C-suite level, The Compleat Food Group aims to drive continuous improvement across its rapidly expanding manufacturing footprint.

Executive Profile: 32 Years at Marks & Spencer

Bell brings over three decades of high-level food industry experience to the role. Her career is defined by a significant 32-year tenure at retailer Marks & Spencer, where her most recent position was Head of Technology. In this capacity, she oversaw both chilled and ambient categories alongside packaging delivery.

Post-retail, Bell spent the last five years operating as an independent consultant, delivering business transformation programmes for major entities including FareShare UK, Bernard Matthews, and Whitbread.

Sue Bell commented on the timing of her arrival: “The Compleat Food Group has been growing rapidly and there are ambitions to continue this trajectory, so it is a really exciting time to be joining the team. With my extensive background in retail, and more recent experience in both the manufacturing and hospitality sectors, I am keen to enable the many talented colleagues in the Technical, ESG and SHE functions to support this growth agenda.”

Nick Field, CEO of The Compleat Food Group, highlighted the strategic fit: “Sue brings a breadth of experience across retail, manufacturing and foodservice, alongside deep knowledge spanning technical, sustainability and continuous improvement. Her appointment is a great fit for The Compleat Food Group as we continue our journey to create Food to Feel Good.”

Leadership Context

Bell’s arrival follows closely on the heels of Nick Reade’s appointment as the group's first UK Managing Director, signalling a concerted effort to build a leadership bench capable of managing the group's scale following a series of high-profile acquisitions.