two months. This is the time it took him to recruit the head of Danone. Emmanuel Faber, the former CEO of the dairy and global water giant, was brutally ousted on March 14, after several months of crisis of governance. Danone’s board of directors is due to meet on Monday afternoon, chaired by Jill Schneep.

On the agenda, according to our information: appointment to the position of General Director of Antoine de Saint-Affrique. CEO of Swiss chocolate maker Barry Callebaut, this famous French leader, identified by some of Danone’s managers even before the ouster of Emmanuel Fabre, must be available from 1^{he is} September, when he plans to release Barry Kalibo.

Danone bounce

He was also close to Max Coyon, former CEO of Danone and current chief executive of the US group McCain, who turned down the position over the weekend of April 24. This made Antoine de Saint-Africa, who reached the only final, after the inadmissibility case against the nomination of Natalie Ross (formerly Maris and L’Oréal) ended. Once the financial terms have been verified and the group staff notified, his arrival at Cape Danone should be formalized from Monday evening.

Read also:Danone prepares to return to shareholders

After more than twenty years at Unilever and a track in Danone in the 1990s, the 57-year-old Essec graduate has a very strong background in the sector, in France and internationally. His personal values ​​are close to Danone’s culture, and his career would make him a very complementary CEO to a president with little experience in the mysteries of mass consumption.

The challenges of Antoine de Saint-Africa are not lacking. He will have to publish the Local First plan, which Emmanuel Faber wanted; He will also have the task of identifying his recipe to make Danone recover. The COVID-19 crisis has affected the sales and profitability of its waters. Danone’s management should also be changed. During the General Assembly meeting on April 29, Gilles Schneib confirmed the Board’s quick review plan.