Gareth Edgecombe Leaves Coca-Cola for Campbell Soup Company

06/16/2011 - Camden, NJ -  Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB) today announced the appointment of Gareth Edgecombe to the role of President, Asia Pacific. In this role, Edgecombe will be responsible for Campbell's Australian, Asian and Pacific operations, including "Arnott's" biscuits and "Campbell's" soup. 

Edgecombe will be based at Campbell Arnott's regional headquarters in Sydney and will report to Mark Alexander, President Campbell International. His appointment is effective Aug. 8, 2011. Edgecombe has nearly 20 years of experience in consumer packaged goods. Prior to joining Campbell, he was President of The Coca-Cola Company's South Pacific business unit. 

Alexander said, "Gareth is a highly experienced executive with a strong background in marketing, sales and general management. His track record of building sales and equity across a range of brands will add tremendous value as we continue to focus on our three core categories for global growth: baked snacks, healthy beverages and simple meals." 

Edgecombe began his career with Coca-Cola Amatil (NZ) Ltd in 1992 before joining New Zealand Dairy Foods Limited, where he held a number of increasingly senior sales and general management roles. In 2003, he joined The Coca-Cola Company and was appointed President of its South Pacific business unit three years later. 

Edgecombe is a graduate of the University of Waikato, Hamilton, where he earned his Bachelor of Management Studies, Marketing and Communications. Edgecombe succeeds Alexander, who assumed the position of Acting President, Asia Pacific following Campbell's decision in April 2011 to shift Chris Delaney into a business development role. Delaney joined Goodman Fielder as CEO in July, 2011.