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Key People - Iain Ferguson

Iain Ferguson, CBE

Chief Executive

Iain Ferguson has been Chief Executive of Tate & Lyle PLC since May 2003.

Iain is active in a number of key industry groups. He is the current President of the Food & Drink Federation, and is Past President of the Institute of Grocery Distribution. He is also Honorary Vice President of the British Nutrition Foundation.

He has served on a number of public/governmental bodies, including the Health & Safety Commission quinquennial review, the DTI Foresight Panel, the Board of Companies House (89-96), the Board of Rothamsted Research Ltd (96 – 05) and most recently as a Commissioner on the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food.

Iain Ferguson joined Unilever in 1977 as a trainee following graduation from St Andrews University. His early career included roles in operations, sales and industrial marketing. In 1988 he became Chairman of Plant Breeding International and in 1992 his role expanded to include Chairmanship of the Unilever Plantation Group. He moved to be Chairman of Birds Eye Walls in 1995 and then Senior Vice President Corporate Development for Unilever plc and NV in April 2001. Iain served as a Non-Executive Director of Sygen International plc from 2002 until 2006.

In the June 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours List, Iain was awarded a CBE for services to the food industry.