ProCook appoints new CEO

ProCook Group plc, the UK's direct-to-consumer specialist kitchenware brand, has announced the appointment of Lee Tappenden as the group's CEO. The news comes after Daniel O'Neill's indication earlier this year of his intention to step back from the CEO role, as set out in the group's preliminary results announcement on 28 June 2023. Tappenden is expected to join the group and board in early October 2023. ProCook said Tappenden brings “extensive” leadership, retail and consumer experience, having spent over 25 years with Walmart Stores and Asda, where he held a range of senior management roles. His tenure included roles in merchandising and operations before he became chief operations officer and then president and CEO of Walmart Canada. He is currently the president at Amyris International, part of the Nasdaq-listed synthetic biology company which produces sustainable beauty and health ingredients and operates its own family of consumer brands. Tappenden has driven its international expansion, through developing strategic retailer partnerships, and its direct-to-consumer ecommerce and brand marketing capabilities. O'Neill will remain in the role of CEO until Tappenden joins the group, and will be available as required to support an orderly transition. Having founded ProCook over 27 years ago, the group will continue to benefit from O'Neill’s “deep knowledge” of the business. He will remain on the board, transitioning to a non-executive director role, supporting the group's continued development, with a particular focus on “his passion for continually improving the product range”. Tappenden said: "I am very excited to be joining the business at this stage; still in its infancy as a listed company and with considerable potential for sustainable, long-term growth. Whilst we are operating in difficult macroeconomic conditions, substantial work has been done by the existing team to ensure ProCook emerges stronger, and I look forward to building on this excellent platform." Greg Hodder, chairman, added: "I would like to extend a very warm welcome to Lee as our new CEO. With his extensive leadership, retail and consumer background, his experience will be invaluable in leading ProCook through its next stage of development as we grow the business. "I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise everything Daniel has done as the Founder and leader of this business over the last 27 years, most recently culminating in the Group's IPO in 2021 and subsequently navigating the challenging market conditions over the last 18 months. He is responsible for creating ProCook and is an outstanding entrepreneur. He will continue to add value to ProCook through his passion for the business and its products, and I look forward to our continued work together over the years ahead."