Mark Allen has stepped down from the AG Barr board after nearly four and a half years to focus on addressing challenges at Hilton Foods.
Consequently, the manufacturer of Irn-Bru has appointed senior independent director Susan Barratt as acting interim chairwoman while they seek a successor. This decision reflects ongoing trends in the food and beverage industry that require adaptive leadership.
Barratt, an experienced operator in the food and drink sector, previously stepped in as CEO of Hilton Foods on a temporary basis last November following the unexpected exit of Steve Murrells.
With a background beginning in the police force, Allen commands several decades of expertise. He has collaborated with numerous food and drink manufacturers, including Dairy UK, Warburtons, and Foods, contributing to advancements in food processing technology.
In an interview Shore Capital analyst Clive Black remarked: “Mr Allen has been a fine chair of AG Barr and is an undoubted gap to fill, but he leaves the firm in fine shape with a very strong board and executive team that is expediting a well thought through plan supported by a very strong balance sheet.”
During his tenure from 2007 to 2019 as CEO of Dairy UK, Allen played a pivotal role in the firm’s successful £1 billion sale to Canadian dairy giant Saputo, demonstrating his capability in navigating food distribution trends.
He has also held key leadership roles at Shell, Howdens, and Norcros, further enriching his understanding of food and drink marketing and consumer trends.
In an update last September, AG Barr announced a significant profit increase in its H1 2026 results, achieving a 20% rise driven by rising prices and improved operating margins, reflecting current food manufacturing trends.
In his farewell statement, Allen expressed, “It’s been an enormous privilege serving as chair of AG Barr as the company has strengthened and innovated its brand portfolio, driven value-creating M&A, and delivered value for shareholders.
“The business is in great shape and now is the right time to pass on the baton and focus on my other commitments.”
Barratt responded: “On behalf of the board, I would like to express our gratitude to Mark for his outstanding contribution and dedicated service to AG Barr over the past five years.
“He has built and led a high-quality board and advanced the strategic direction for the business. He leaves AG Barr in a strong position, and we wish him all the best for the future.”
