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CEO of Maggie Beer parent company departs for bigger business opportunities

Maggie Beer’s parent company Longtable Group announced on Wednesday that CEO Laura McBain has left the business after two years at the helm with the hope of moving on to a larger business.

The former Bellamy’s Australia boss said that she has successfully turned around the performance of the Maggie Beer premium foods business, and that Paris Creek and Saint David Dairy are in the early stages of a turnaround.

“I believe now is a good time for me to consider career opportunities with larger enterprises,” McBain said in an ASX statement.

“This has not been an easy decision given how much I love the portfolio of Australian premium food and dairy brands we have developed, and importantly the values those brands stand for.”

Longtable chairman Tony Robinson said McBain has done “a tremendous job… building an experienced FMCG team, and laying the foundation for the company’s growth in Australia and into overseas markets”.

“It’s her decision. We’re always disappointed to lose someone of her calibre. The share price hasn’t reflected the effort and the work she’s put in,”
Robinson told theAFR.

Chantale Millard is taking up the position of acting chief executive with McBain assisting in the transition while the company looks for a replacement.

The business is also on the lookout for a new chairman as Robinson had previously signaled his intention to step down.

Longtable reports that demand is high for the Maggie Beer cheese range as well as plant-based take home meals at independent stores.

Celebrity chef Maggie Beer and her husband Colin sold their remaining shares to Longtable in April ina $10 million deal.

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