The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has announced the appointment of Kate Carnell to the position of Chief Executive. AFGC Chair Geoff Starr said that Ms Carnell would bring a wealth of political, health and industry experience to the position.

“Kate’s career spans both the public and private sectors and she has a long history of active involvement in industry associations. The Board is confident she will use her qualifications and leadership abilities to continue the development and operation of the AFGC,” he said.

Ms Carnell is currently the CEO at the Australian General Practice Network and prior to this she held the position of Executive Director at the National Association of Forest Industries. She has been a practising pharmacist in Canberra, owning and developing a number of independent pharmacies.

Ms Carnell is well known in Canberra through her previous role as Chief Minister of the ACT Government from 1995 to 2000.
Ms Carnell will commence with AFGC on 7 July 2008. She replaces outgoing Chief Executive Dick Wells, who had previously advised the AFGC Board that he did not wish to renew his contract beyond his current term, which ends in July, after six years with the AFGC. Mr Starr paid tribute to the role that Mr Wells had played in the AFGC particularly in terms of developing constructive relationships with all participants along the food and grocery supply chain and leading the development of a positive industry approach to nutrition and health.

The Burger King Corporation has announced the appointment of Peter Tan as Executive Vice President and President, Asia Pacific. He reports to John Chidsey, Chief Executive Officer.

Mr Tan joined BKC in 2006 and is responsible for all BKC operations in the Asia Pacific division. He has led the turnaround of the company’s APAC business, rebuilding the APAC management team, bringing consistency to the region’s menus and driving operational improvements in the restaurants. He is based in the company’s Asian headquarters in Singapore.

“Peter’s success in turning around existing markets played a large role in our ability to recruit strong, well-established franchise operators into key markets for the Burger King® brand. The results have also inspired development throughout the region, in new markets such as Japan and Indonesia and in existing markets including Hong Kong, China and Australia.” said Mr Chidsey.

Peter Tan was previously senior vice president and president of McDonald’s Corp’s greater China division, a position that included Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau and more than 1250 restaurants. He holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and is a member of the Kellogg School of Management Alumni Advisory Board.