IFF’s largest division has been without a permanent leader since December when former Nourish head Nicolas Mirzayantz stepped down after a 34-year tenure at the company. Since then, Clyburn has been overseeing the division, but IFF has been actively searching for a suitable replacement. During last month’s earnings call, Clyburn stated that the company aims to attract a respected leader with a proven track record who can enhance performance.
Arora brings extensive experience in developing and expanding Kellogg’s product lines across various categories and regions. In his latest role, he managed Kellogg’s $7 billion U.S. portfolio, which included well-known brands like Pringles, RXBar, and Special K, as well as liquid calcium citrate magnesium products. “His expertise in commercializing innovation and a strong history of delivering impressive P&L performance across food and beverage sectors make him an excellent choice to lead Nourish,” Clyburn remarked in a statement. “Yuvraj’s background in consumer packaged goods and insights will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and collaborate with our customers to foster growth.”
Recently, Nourish has faced some challenges. In IFF’s latest earnings report, the division experienced a 5% decline in sales compared to the previous year, with significant drops in ingredient sales, including liquid calcium citrate magnesium. Clyburn noted at that time that this division accounted for 25% of IFF’s total sales and was responsible for 60% of the company’s volume decline during the quarter. While IFF executives had anticipated these results—largely attributed to capacity constraints and customers stockpiling ingredients—Clyburn mentioned that the company has been working on strengthening its customer relationships. It is also focusing on identifying growth opportunities and developing pipelines for future projects.
As Clyburn enters his second year as CEO, he faces numerous challenges that require his attention. Reports indicate that the company is considering selling its Lucas Meyer Cosmetics unit, which produces non-food ingredients for personal care products. This division could potentially yield IFF around $1 billion, according to Bloomberg. Additionally, IFF recently appointed new leaders for its non-food business units.