Lucy Hovey has been named as Kraft Heinz’s new CFO for the UK & Ireland. She succeeds Darren De Vires who departs the manufacturer after eight years of service.
Hovey brings with her more than two decades of finance leadership experience across the consumer goods industry, including 13 years at Unilever.
Most recently, she served as the CFO for Unilever UK & Ireland’s Personal Care business, while also acting as finance lead for Deodorants and Skin Cleansing across Europe.
Prior to this, she has held several leadership positions across Unilever’s global and local organisations, including with brands like Dove, Lynx, and REN Clean Skincare, where she led a significant business turnaround and helped restore growth and profitability.
Her farewell to Unilever follows a string of changes at the Marmite manufacturer’s helm, which has seen several exits and new appointments across senior leadership, including former CEO Hein Schumacher’s surprise exit in 2025.
In her new role at Kraft Heinz, Hovey will oversee the UK and Ireland’s finance function, setting financial strategy and multi-year plans, and partnering with the wider leadership team to drive profitable, sustainable growth across the business.
Commenting on the news, Marta Pilczuk, managing director for Kraft Heinz UK & Ireland, said: “Lucy is a highly accomplished finance leader with a strong track record of partnering closely with commercial teams to deliver profitable, sustainable growth.
“Her breadth of experience across category and business-unit leadership, combined with her collaborative, people-first approach, will be invaluable as we continue to build momentum in the UK & Ireland. I’m delighted to welcome Lucy to Kraft Heinz, and I’d like to thank Darren for his leadership and contribution to the business as we begin this transition.”
Posting to Linked In about her new appointment, Hovey added: “I’m joining a business with iconic brands, real momentum and a team that’s ambitious, energetic and clearly focussed on what’s next. That combination is hard to find, and exactly why this felt like the right move.
“Especially as food has always been a big part of my life. I love cooking with the family, and Kraft Heinz brands are already staples in our kitchen (my children are convinced beans and ketchup improve almost every meal, and frankly, it’s hard to argue).
“Looking forward to collaborating with new colleagues, getting stuck in and pushing the UK&I business forward. Here’s to the next chapter – excited to build on the momentum together!”
