Dirk Van de Put Joins McCain as Chief Operating Officer

Today McCain Foods Limited announced the appointment of Dirk Van de Put as Chief Operating Officer, effective May 17^th, 2010. In this new role, created as a result of the company’s succession planning efforts, Van de Put will have direct accountability for McCain’s operating businesses, including integrated supply chain, globally. He will also be a member of the Board of Directors.

Van de Put brings to McCain extraordinary global experience from more than 20 years in the food industry, most recently as President, Global OTC (over the counter), Consumer Health business of Novartis. Prior to joining Novartis, Van de Put spent more than a decade with Group Danone in progressively more responsible positions, leaving as Senior Executive Vice President and President, Americas Division. Prior to Danone Van de Put spent more than a decade at Mars Incorporated, a private family company, in both marketing and general management roles in Belgium, Puerto Rico and Argentina. He also spent time in supply chain and general management with The Coca-Cola Company in Puerto Rico and Brazil.

Van de Put grew up in Belgium and obtained his Doctor in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Gent in Belgium in 1985 and continued on, after discovering a passion for business, to complete his MBA from the University of Antwerp in 1987. He is linguistically gifted, fluent in Dutch, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and German.

Van de Put will be moving to Toronto with his family from Miami, Florida.