Family bakery Vili’s has appointed its first non-family member CEO, with Tom Sullivan to lead the iconic brand that was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the SA Food Awards in 2024.
Sullivan replaces Alison Milisits in the role, who will transition to managing director and onto a newly established advisory board.
Alison is the daughter of the late Vili Milisits, who founded the bakery in 1968. The Hungarian pastry chef, who fled to Australia during the Hungarian Revolution in 1956, died in 2021, aged 72.
His daughter will sit on the advisory board alongside Vili’s wife, Rosemary, to continue to lead the family-owned business while working closely with Sullivan to drive growth.
Sullivan’s appointment marks a new era for the company that employs 360 people, including support for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, and is actively involved in local charities.
The business…
