ABF Ingredients Hires Ingredion SVP Jeremy Xu as CEO – vegconomist

Global specialty ingredients producer ABF Ingredients has appointed Jeremy Xu as its new CEO. He will join the company on April 9.

Xu is currently SVP, Chief Innovation Officer, and President of Global Healthful Solutions at global ingredient producer Ingredion. He will take over from Fabienne Saadane-Oaks, who has been CEO of ABFI since 2015 and has helped the company’s portfolio grow from four to seven businesses (AB Biotek Human Nutrition and Health, AB Enzymes, ABITEC, Fytexia, Ohly, PGP International and SPI Pharma).

Xu will bring significant experience gained throughout a 30-year career at Dupont, DSM, and Ingredion. He will lead ABFI’s next phase of growth, which will involve enhancing capability in R&D and commercial activities through investment.

“I have long admired ABFI from afar and am excited at this opportunity to lead the next stage of its growth,” said Xu. “Each of ABFI’s businesses is synonymous with excellence in specialty ingredients. They all have distinct identities, but are united by their shared business philosophy and the strength of their deeply impressive leadership teams. I look forward to working with my new colleagues at the businesses and within the wider ABF Group.”

“First-rate global leader”

ABFI is the specialty ingredients division of the Associated British Foods group. In November, ABF’s overall Ingredients segment posted full-year revenue of £2,157 million and an adjusted operating profit of £214 million.

One of ABFI’s businesses is Ohly, which offers a range of yeast-based culinary ingredients designed to enhance taste and functionality. These include a protein that can replace egg white and yeast extracts that provide an umami flavor.

“I am delighted that Jeremy has agreed to join ABFI. He is a first-rate global leader; I know we are going to benefit greatly from his deep specialty ingredient knowledge and multimarket experience, together with his customer and business-focused approach to R&D and innovation,” said George Weston, Chief Executive at Associated British Foods plc. “I’d also like to pay tribute to Fabienne Saadane-Oaks at the close of nine hugely successful years at ABFI. Fabienne has brought experience, intelligence, energy, warmth, and scale to our business. She has very high standards and has been a great developer of talent and a mentor for colleagues. We wish her well for the future.”