Grimwood will be succeeded at Nestlé UK & Ireland by Fiona Kendrick, who currently heads Nestlé’s global coffee business unit in Switzerland
She developed her early career with Nestlé in the UK and headed Nestlé’s UK Food & Beverage Division, including the Nescafé business for six years.
Grimwood has held the top job at Nestlé UK & Ireland since January 2009, and headed Nestlé’s UK Confectionery business for three years prior to that.
Nestlé said that during his tenure its business in the UK & Ireland had delivered consistent growth in sales and profitability, despite the difficult economic environment, and had grown overall market share.
Next-generation manufacturing
Grimwood also led a large investment programme to create Nestlé’s next-generation manufacturing operations in the UK.
In January this year Nestlé announced a £500M investment in its UK factories over the next three years and, in October, the company will move to a new head office in Gatwick.
Grimwood has also taken a prominent role in the wider industry as deputy president of the Food & Drink Federation (FDF), chairing its Competitiveness Steering Group.
FDF communications director Terry Jones said Grimwood had done a “grand job” and that a new deputy president would be appointed at the next FDF Council meeting in October.