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Glanbia has appointed Wendy Chang Smith as its next chief financial officer, with the executive set to succeed Mark Garvey following his retirement from the group next year.

Chang Smith, currently Glanbia’s chief digital and transformation officer, will become CFO designate with immediate effect. She will formerly take over as CFO and join the company’s board as an executive director on 31 March 2027.

Garvey, who has served as Glanbia’s CFO for 13 years, will step down from the role and from the company’s board on 30 March 2027, before retiring from the group on 30 April 2027.

Chang Smith joined Glanbia in 2020 and previously served as CFO of the company’s performance nutrition segment. Before joining the group, she held senior finance roles at Amazon, Kellogg, Johnson & Johnson and Proctor & Gamble, with experience spanning the US, Europe and Asia.

Glanbia’s CEO Hugh McGuire said: “Wendy is a trusted leader within the company and brings significant finance, digital and transformation experience gained across the consumer branded and retail sector.”

McGuire also paid tribute to Garvey, highlighting his contribution during more than a decade at the group.

He continued: “He has led the financial stewardship of the group through a period of significant change with a strong focus on disciplined capital allocation and cash generation that has enabled Glanbia to invest in growth and deliver strong returns to our shareholders.”

McGuire added that Garvey will leave Glanbia with an ‘exceptionally strong balance sheet’ and the business ‘well positioned for the future’.