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FrieslandCampina, one of the world’s largest dairy companies, has confirmed a new leadership change within its UK & Ireland operations.

Effective 1 January 2026, Bob Mulder will take over as FrieslandCampina's managing director of UK & Ireland, succeeding Will Jones, who will step down at the end of this year.

Currently serving as sales director for the company's Consumer Dairy Netherlands division, Mulder brings a wealth of experience to his new role.

His eight-year tenure at FrieslandCampina, combined with prior leadership positions at Hero, Euroma and Unilever, positions him well to drive the company’s strategic initiatives in the region. Mulder will report directly to Dustin Woodward, president of FrieslandCampina Europe.

In his previous role, Mulder successfully led teams to achieve sustainable growth across key brands, demonstrating a strong capability in navigating the competitive dairy market.

Woodward expressed confidence in Mulder’s ability to continue FrieslandCampina’s trajectory of growth and innovation. “Bob’s existing track record in driving growth and his deep understanding of the dairy market will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and expand in the UK & Ireland,” he said.

Jones, who joined FrieslandCampina in 2015 as marketing director, has been instrumental in establishing the company’s market leadership, particularly with its flagship brand, Yazoo.

Under Jone's leadership, the company launched the Chocomel and Barista brands in 2019 and successfully oversaw the relocation of the UK head office to central London in 2023, a move that enhanced the company’s operational efficiency and market presence.

Woodward acknowledged Jones’s contributions, commenting: “His growth mindset, people-first leadership and positive attitude have been instrumental in shaping our success”.