TREWITHEN DAIRY

Company background

Trewithen Dairy is run by the Clarke family who have owned Greymare Farm in Cornwall’s Glynn Valley since 1976. The business now works with around 35 farmers who produce the highest quality milk for its range of award-winning dairy products. With over 200 employees, the business supplies major UK supermarkets including Morrisons, Waitrose, Asda and Aldi and delivers to over 700 businesses in the South West from cafes and schools to hospitals and convenience stores.

The brief

To help drive future success, an experienced and high calibre CFO was required to oversee the finance function, provide commercial insight and partner with the Board to shape the business plan, strategy and operations.

Directorbank’s George Heppenstall was referred to the business by the Chair of Trewithen, Jules Hydleman, and was selected to lead the search, supported by Consultant Faye Middleton.

The ideal candidate would be commercially savvy and highly motivated with a proven track record in a commercial chief finance role, ideally within a high-growth food business.

The process

Following a thorough search of the food-manufacturing sector to identify potential candidates with best in class experience across large and medium size entrepreneurial businesses, Paul Berne was appointed to the position.

Result

Paul is a perfect fit for the role having had a background spanning various commercial and finance roles with the Co-Op Group and Samworth Brothers including the Ginsters, Walker & Son and The Cornwall Bakery brands.

Since his appointment, Paul has stepped up to the position of CEO.