Changes in governance at Bel Group
During the upcoming transitory period, Béliot becomes group executive vice president and succeeds Fiévet as chairman of the supervisory board of MOM (Materne, Pom’Potes/GoGo squeeZ, Mont-Blanc brands, etc.).
Prepared for since Béliot joined Bel as executive vice president in charge of the group’s strategy, growth levers and markets, this evolution seeks to allow Bel Group to continue to lead its transformation, while perpetuating the vision and values carried by the Bel-Fiévet shareholder family since the creation of the company more than 150 years ago.
The mission undertaken by Béliot in this transitory period is to progressively prepare the next steps for bringing together Bel and MOM teams and to continue implementing the group’s strategy on its three complementary product families – dairy, plant-based and fruit – in line with the innovation, internationalization and modernization processes she has already set in motion within Bel.
Since Béliot joined Bel in 2018, she has defined within the executive committee the pillars of the strategy for a sustainable growth model and has led alongside Fiévet the deployment of this strategy: acceleration of innovation with the shift towards plant-based products, overhaul of the brands’ missions while respecting their historic attributes, acceleration of the group’s new geographical territories, and distribution channels (e-commerce, out-of-home).
Bel’s board of directors has declared itself in favor of the move towards separate governance as of 2022. This type of governance has shown its strengths in many international companies and should allow both for short-term transformation and for long-term sustainable performance in an increasingly uncertain and complex world.
Fiévet said, “This governance shift is the fruit of a long-standing consideration, and I have wished to progressively set it up to guarantee the stability and sustainability of the Group’s growth. As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of our iconic brand, The Laughing Cow, we are at a symbolic moment demonstrating our ability to take the long view.
“This is also a strategic moment, as we are accelerating on new growth territories: plant-based products and, through our MOM activities, the fruits segment. Cécile Béliot has shown over these past years her commitment to our group’s values and DNA, her leadership, her ability to transform our model in order to uphold our mission: offering healthier and responsible food for all. I am convinced that she will be able to meet our future challenges and to continue developing sustainably our Group and its brands.”
Béliot said, “The trust shown in me by Antoine Fiévet and the shareholder family is a great honor, but above all a great responsibility. It commits me to the pursuit of our mission which we have undertaken together for three years now, and to be dedicated to the values which have made our group’s success. I deeply believe in the strength of our model to invent the sustainable food of tomorrow, accessible to as many people as possible. I am proud that we are committed to this on a daily basis, together with all of the employees of the group.”
