ProCook appoints new chief executive as founder moves to non-exec role
Kitchenware brand ProCook Group has appointed Lee Tappenden as its group chief executive.
The move follows the announcement earlier this year that founder Daniel O’Neill intended to step back from the position.
Due to join the business in early October, Tappenden’s career has included over 25 years with Walmart Stores and Asda, where he held a range of senior management roles, including chief operations officer and president and chief executive of Walmart Canada.
He is currently the president at Amyris International, a Nasdaq-listed synthetic biology company that produces sustainable beauty and health ingredients and operates its own family of consumer brands.
Greg Hodder, ProCook chairman, said: “I would like to extend a very warm welcome to Lee as our new chief executive. With his extensive leadership, retail and consumer background, his experience will be invaluable in leading ProCook through its next stage of development as we grow the business.”
Meanwhile O’Neill will remain in the chief executive role until Tappenden joins the company. Having founded ProCook over 27 years ago, he will move to being a non-executive director.
Hodder added: “I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise everything Daniel has done as the founder and leader of this business over the last 27 years, most recently culminating in the group’s IPO in 2021 and subsequently navigating the challenging market conditions over the last 18 months.
“He is responsible for creating ProCook and is an outstanding entrepreneur. He will continue to add value to ProCook through his passion for the business and its products, and I look forward to our continued work together over the years ahead.”
