Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> October 11, 1999
LESLIE VAN DE WALLE, aged 43, joined UB in 1994. A French national, he
is multi-lingual and has a proven track record in a number of European
markets. Prior to joining UB, he gained wide experience in marketing
and general management in Europe's major good groups - Danone
(1981-1984) and Cadbury Schweppes (1984-1994). Following an MBA at HEC,
France's premier business school, Mr Van de Walle's early career was
spent in marketing at Danone. He was headhunted by Cadbury Schweppes to
develop their French drinks operation. During his time in France, the
business was transformed and further developed by the acquisition of
Gini and Oasis (transactions in which Mr Van de Walle participated). He
then moved to a number of roles in the Benelux region, before taking
responsibility for three business units across Europe. Latterly, Mr Van
De Walle moved to Spain to effect a turnaround of Schweppes operations
in Spain and Portugal. Mr Van de Walle joined UB in 1994 and was
appointed to the Holdings Board in 1998. In his first role as Managing
Director of Continental Snacks, Mr Van de Walle repositioned UB's snacks
strategy and significantly rationalised the portfolio prior to partial
disposal to Pepsico. He was then appointed to manage UB's continental
biscuits business where he developed and implemented the new strategy,
turned around Verkade, rationalised the supply chain and bought and
integrated BN and Delacre. In 1998, Mr Van de Walle took responsibility
for McVitie's Group (UB's worldwide biscuits operations) and has
finalised the growth strategy for this important component of the group.
In March 1999, he was appointed United Biscuits Group Chief Executive
Officer. Profile
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