Creating an authoritative single voice on food contact and sustainability issues to present to government and European legislative authorities, is a priority for Jan Homan, newly-elected chairman of Flexible Packaging Europe and chief executive officer of Constantia Flexibles.

Daniel L. Jones, President and CEO of HayssenSandiacre, has announced the promotion of Mike May to the newly created position of Executive Vice President. The news marks the first phase of a carefully planned leadership transition that will culminate with May’s appointment as company president upon Jones’ retirement in 2011. In his expanded role, May will assume progressing stages of responsibility for each aspect of the business as HayssenSandiacre continues to grow its position as a global leader in horizontal and vertical form fill and seal equipment and support services for the packaging industry.

Craft Brewers Conference in Chicago draws a crowd

You have to give it to the U.S. craft brewers: they know how to organise a beerfest. For a full week, beer was the talk of town. On Monday 5 April 2010 judging began for the 2010 World Beer Cup competition which seamlessly merged with the Craft Brewers Conference kicking off on Wednesday 7 April 2010 with the impressive Welcome Reception at the Field Museum of Natural History. Throughout the week, brewpubs, restaurants and distributors hosted special events with eminent and media savvy “brewing warlords” like Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Brewery, Nick Floyd of Three Floyds Brewing and the “Grandfather of Microbrewing” Fritz Maytag of Anchor Brewing. The week’s final highlight was the World Beer Cup Gala Awards dinner on Saturday 10 April 2010, when 268 gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded to brewers from around the world.

Mark Jensen has been appointed CEO in Carlsberg Sweden effective as of 1 May 2010. He comes from a position as Vice President Business Development Northern Europe and was before that responsible for integrating Brasseries Kronenbourg into Carlsberg Group. He replaces Otto Drakenberg who has decided to leave Carlsberg.

Presenting a high dosage of imposing ideas and initiatives the well-established congress for the PET industry will take place on 8th -9th November 2010 in Nuremberg this year. Prior to Brau Beviale 2010 and in cooperation with this trade show the PETnology team around Barbara und Prof. Dr.-Ing. Otto Appel will again create the convenient atmosphere to meet the PETnologist’s thirst for knowledge and networking.

This year’s “VLB Frühjahrstagung” kicked off with a site visit to Brouwerij Martens in Kaulille/Bocholt, Belgium. The brewery tour covered almost all aspects of the brewing process, starting at the malt delivery stations and ending at the filling lines. Afterwards, all 300 participants were invited to an informal get together to the Martens Museum in Bocholt – the Museum of Friendship.

Frutarom Ltd., the seventh largest company in flavors and specialty fine ingredients, has appointed Salvatore Gargano as General Manager of its Health Business Unit. Gargano comes to Frutarom following six years as Global Director of the “Actives” division of the Care Chemicals Business Unit of Cognis Group (Laboratoires Serobiologiques brand) and as GM of division activities in Cognis Group’s Spain subsidiary (Barcelona).

In a meeting on 19 January 2010, the supervisory board at WEENER Plastik AG, Weener, appointed Johann Meinders as the new chairman of the board of directors. Mr. Meinders succeeds Johann Schröder, who will take over chairmanship of the supervisory board with immediate effect.

Since January 1, 2010, Jan Pörksen is new Customer Marketing Director at Diageo, world’s leading premium drink business. In his new position, Pörksen is responsible for Diageo’s product portfolio on German, Austrian, and Swiss markets. Newly created, the position

Robert H. Chapman, chairman and CEO of Barry-Wehmiller Companies, Inc., has announced the appointment of Simon Lagoe to the role of director for the company’s diversified U.K. operations, which includes six manufacturing facilities operated by five Barry-Wehmiller business units. In addition, Lagoe will continue his role as managing director of the Nottingham, U.K., operation of HayssenSandiacre, a Barry-Wehmiller company specializing in vertical and horizontal form, fill, and seal technology and services.

Three new directors have been appointed by leading food and drink consultancy Zenith International. They are all internal promotions and take effect from 1st January 2010.

As of earlier this month, Pierre-Olivier Bergeron has taken over as the new Secretary General of The Brewers of Europe, succeeding Rodolphe de Looz-Corswarem who retired at the end of 2009.

Ball Corporation, Broomfield, USA announced in November that John A. Hayes will become president of Ball at the beginning of 2010. Hayes, who will remain chief operating officer for the corporation, also will join Ball’s board of directors at that time.

Symrise AG has selected two new members of the Executive Committee. The Supervisory Board has installed Hans Holger Gliewe as the new head of the Flavor & Nutrition division with immediate effect. He succeeds Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram in this role who has been serving as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Symrise since July 1, 2009 while simultaneously managing the division for an interim period.