Chief Executive
Stefan Barden became Chief Executive of Northern Foods on 5 February 2007.
Born in 1962 in the UK he graduated from Leeds University with a first in Engineering. He was sponsored by Unilever, who he joined on graduation in 1984 as a graduate trainee.
Here, Stefan held a range of roles, both in Italy and the UK, in operations, marketing and sales; all with the common theme of driving step change improvements across the business. He also obtained a Certified Diploma in Accounting and Finance, and became a Chartered Engineer. In 1991 he left to study full time for an MBA at Warwick Business School, achieving a Distinction.
In 1992, from his MBA, Stefan joined McKinsey & Company Inc, where he worked as a consultant to multinational and UK businesses, largely in the branded consumer goods and retail sectors across Europe and the USA.
A period in the food retailing business followed when, in 1995, Stefan joined Iceland Frozen Foods heading up its ambient Grocery business, with responsibility for over £400m of sales and 12 major grocery buying groups.
In 1997 Stefan joined Heinz and in subsequent years he held a number of senior roles across the business, including European Director and global Co-ordinator for its Sauces business, culminating as Managing Director of Heinz UK and Ireland from 2003 to 2005.
Stefan joined Northern Foods in January 2006 when he was appointed Executive Director of the Chilled division. He became Chief Executive in February 2007, following the completion of the company's disposal programme.
Stefan is a Director of Improve, the UK's food and drink sector skills council and also sits on the Policy Issues Council of the IGD. Married with two children, he is a keen sportsman.
