Consumer goods recruitment

Hicks Muse (Europe), the private equity buyout firm that recently separated from its US parent, is expanding its expertise in the branded consumer goods industry. Javier Ferran and George Sewell will join the firm as directors as from this month.

Lyndon Lea, managing partner of Hicks Muse (Europe), said that both professionals would assist the firm in monitoring existing and potential branded consumer investments. “Their decisions to join us endorse the relevancy of our investment strategy in the consumer branded sector,” Lea said.

Prior to joining Hicks Muse (Europe), Ferran, a Spanish national, held senior positions at Bacardi Group for 20 years. He looked after the group’s key markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and was most recently president and chief executive of Bacardi Ltd.

Sewell was at Quaker Oats for 32 years, becoming president of Quaker European Foods in 1995, a position he held until last year. In addition, Sewell was chairman of the Association of Cereal Food Manufacturers and a member of the Council of Food & Drink Federation from 1999 to 2001. He is also a non-executive director of Premier Foods.

IFRBuyouts reported that Hicks Muse might expand its European buyouts team on February 3. The newly-independent firm is due to change its name to reflect its new status. It formally separated from its Dallas-based parent on January 21.