Bengt Baron new CEO of Leaf International

The Board of Directors of Leaf International BV has appointed Bengt Baron as the new Chief Executive Officer of Leaf. Bengt Baron succeeds Peter Bennemeer who leaves the company after four years as CEO. The Group's portfolio of strong brands includes for example Läkerol, Jenkki, Sportlife, Red Band, Malaco and Saila. Leaf has an annual turnover of €552m and 2500 employees. The new CEO Bengt Baron will take up his duties in August 2009. Bengt Baron (born 1962) was previously CEO of the Swedish spirits and wine company V&S Group between 2004 and 2008. Prior to that, he was head of V&S Group's biggest business area, The Absolut Company. He has also held senior positions of the companies Coca-Cola, Stepstone, Kodak and Frionor. He began his career with McKinsey & Company in 1988. "Bengt Baron is a high-caliber international executive, and we are very pleased with this recruitment. His profound experience of developing a portfolio of market-leading brands will be important to form the future of Leaf," says Robert Jan van Ogtrop, Chairman of The Board in Leaf and representative of CVC. "Bengt Baron has a deep knowledge of Nordic and international markets and is the right person to take Leaf into its next phase", concludes Hans Eckerström, member of the Board in Leaf International and partner, Nordic Capital.

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