Campbell appoints Edgecombe as Asia-Pac boss

Posted by Nicole Eckersley on 21st June 2011

Campbell Soup Co. has appointed former Coca-Cola Co. executive Gareth Edgecombe to the role of president of its operations in Asia-Pacific.Edgecombe will be responsible for the company’s Australian, Asian and Pacific operations, including the Arnott’s biscuits brand and Campbell’s soup. He will be based at Campbell Arnott’s regional headquarters in Sydney and will report to Mark Alexander, president of Campbell International. His appointment is effective from 8 August.

Edgecombe succeeds Alexander, who assumed the position of acting president for the Asia-Pacific unit following Campbell’s decision in April to shift Chris Delaney into a business development role. Delaney has since left the company to take over as CEO of Goodman Fielder.

“Gareth is a highly experienced executive with a strong background in marketing, sales and general management. His track record of building sales and equity across a range of brands will add tremendous value as we continue to focus on our three core categories for global growth: baked snacks, healthy beverages and simple meals,” said Alexander.

Edgecombe has nearly 20 years of experience in consumer packaged goods. Prior to joining Campbell, he was president of Coca-Cola Co.’s South Pacific business unit.

He began his career with Coca-Cola Amatil in New Zealand in 1992 before joining New Zealand Dairy Foods, where he held a number of increasingly senior sales and general management roles. In 2003, he joined Coca-Cola Co. and was appointed president of its South Pacific business unit three years later.

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