PURE.L Regulatory News (PURE)

24 Nov 2008 07:51



PureCircle Limited

('PureCircle' or 'the Group')

Executive Management Appointments

PureCircle (LSE:PURE), the world's leading developer, producer, and marketer of high purity Rebaudioside-A (Reb-A) under the PureVia™ brand, the first all-natural zero calorie sweetener which can be used as a key ingredient in mainstream food and beverage production, announces further appointments to its Executive Management Committee. 

PureCircle has appointed Dorn Wenninger as Corporate Vice-President: Supply Chain and Arne Lugeon as Corporate Vice-President: Human Resources.

Dorn Wenninger, a United States citizen, has over sixteen years of senior management experience with a number of international agribusiness companies including Chiquita and Driscoll's. In that time, Dorn has worked in a variety of countries across all six continents. In particular, Dorn has extensive experience in South America, Africa and Far East where PureCircle currently operates its supply chain. 

Arne Lugeon, a Swiss citizen, has extensive HR experience in various countries around the world, in particular in Asia. Arne joins PureCircle following a sixteen year career in the Firmenich Group, firstly based in Geneva for 8 years where he was appointed an HR director before moving to Singapore as Vice President: Human Resources and General Services, Asia Pacific.  In addition Arne was the Managing Director for the Asia Pacific HQ in Singapore.

These appointments are expected to be followed shortly with further appointments across the Sales and Marketing functions. 

Commenting on the appointments, Magomet Malsagov, Chief Executive Officer, said:

"We are pleased that Dorn and Arne have joined the Group.  Their arrival, which further strengthens PureCircle's management team, puts in place a range of skills and nationalities that reflect the scale, international reach and technical aspects of the Group, and will also build on  our capability to meet the needs of our multinational food and beverage customers."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Executive Management Committee

The Executive Management Committee comprises:

Magomet Malsagov, Chief Executive Officer

William Mitchell, Chief Financial Officer

Peter Milsted, Director: Marketing & Sales

Varuzhan Abelyan, Corporate Vice-President: R&D and Process Innovation

Dorn Wenninger, Corporate Vice-President: Supply Chain

Tat Seng Koh, Corporate Vice-President: New Business Development

Arne Lugeon, Corporate Vice-President: Human Resources

PureCircle

PureCircle (LSE:PURE) is the world's leading producer and marketer of high purity Rebaudioside-A (Reb A*), with a vertically integrated supply chain operating in three continents. PureCircle markets a range of natural sweeteners internationally. Activities range from the sourcing of dry stevia leaves and extraction, refining of Reb-A into sweeteners and marketing of these sweeteners to food and beverage manufacturers worldwide. 

PureCircle's extraction plant currently produces 1,000MT of stevia extract annually, making it the the world's largest stevia extraction facility. Expansion work on this facility will be completed in March 2009, increasing the annual capacity to 4,000 MT.. The Company already operates the world's largest state-of-the-art refining plant in Malaysia. This currently produces 1,000MT of high purity Reb-A and work has started to double this capacity to 2,000MT. The Company's production facilities operate in compliance with cGMP, HACCP and ISO standards.

PureCircle's investment in research and development has given it a leadership position in the manufacture of high-purity Reb-A, and their scientists are globally recognised experts in their field. 

The Company works with independent farmers in Thailand, China, Paraguay, Laos and Kenya to grow the high quality stevia leaf. PureCircle works closely with communities in each of these countries and endeavours to maximise the social, economic and environmental benefits of its operations.

PureCircle is listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM market under the ticker symbol: PURE

For more information on PureCircle visit: www.purecircle.com