John West has appointed Neal Woods as its new Commercial Director for the UK. Woods returns to John West UK after three years as General Manager of John West Ireland, where he also served for a year as interim General Manager of John West Netherlands. Under his leadership, both businesses delivered strong results, reinforcing John West’s position as the number one brand in the ambient seafood category in their respective markets.
“Having Neal step into the UK Commercial Director role is a huge win for us,” said Mark Doherty, Managing Director at John West Foods. “He knows our business and the wider seafood industry inside out, and his leadership will be pivotal as we drive our Strategy 2030 – strengthening our category leadership and growing market share.”
Commenting on his new role, Woods said: “I’m excited to rejoin the UK team and work closely with our trade partners. 2026 will be a big year for innovation at John West as we expand our portfolio with more healthy, natural seafood options – helping consumers continue to Eat Strong. Go Strong.”
Woods has been part of John West and parent company Thai Union for more than 12 years, holding a range of senior commercial and marketing roles. Before joining John West, he held brand and marketing positions with major UK FMCG companies including Reckitt, Warburtons and United Biscuits.
