A veteran of the meat industry, Henshaw began his career 17 years ago as a butcher on the shop floor, culminating in his most recent position as project resource manager at ABP.
Henshaw has also served as head of operations at the Botswana Meat Commission and running a bottled water business in the sub-Saharan country.
Commenting on his new role, Henshaw said: “For me personally it's about continuing to establish myself at the top level within the industry and making as big an impact at Mackie’s as I have in throughout my career in the meat sector.
‘Best foot forward’
“I aim to bring the experience I have to the dairy industry now and look at how we can best perform, how we can grow the business and how we can give the business the tools to continue to put its best foot forward.
“In ten years’ time, I’ll measure my success by whether we've brought the business to the level we expect, maintained high performance, and competed successfully with other established brands.”
In his new role, Henshaw will oversee Mackie’s operational performance and the delivery of its ice cream and chocolate products to market.
Stuart Common, managing director of Mackie’s of Scotland, added: “Paul brings an immense amount of experience in the food and drink sector, which will undoubtedly strengthen our operations team. His diverse international background and strategic vision align perfectly with our goals to expand and innovate.
Investment and expertise
“With our continued focus on growth and investment in our facilities, coupled with Paul's operational expertise, we're well-positioned to build on our success as the UK's largest independently owned ice cream manufacturer.”
Henshaw’s appointment comes after Mackie’s made three additions to its sales team earlier in the year, including a new head of sales.
Reportedly the UK’s largest independently owned ice cream manufacturer, Mackie’s produces luxury ice cream from its fifth-generation dairy farm in Aberdeenshire, using fresh milk and cream from its own herd.
Meanwhile, leading food manufacturer Bakkavor has promoted UK finance director Lee Miley to the role of chief financial officer.