TONY Farmer is quitting as director and chief executive of Convergent Telecom the Pocklington-based mobile telecommunications service provider, on Sunday.

He is ending his 12-month £160,000 contract in the same week that he has announced a six-figure deal to provide international construction and engineering giant Costain with a comprehensive new mobile phone network.

That success came hot on the heels of last year's six-figure deal to supply telecommunications services to Microsoft UK.

But last December the plc reported a £3 million pre-tax loss in its half-year figures.

His successor will be Graham Darnell, 39, former executive for Orange, and managing director for computer services business IEC Ltd, where he increased revenues from £18 million to £48 million.

More recently Mr Darnell was chief executive of Science Warehouse Limited, the business developing supply-chain software which he was forced to place into administration in March 2002.

At the time the principal creditors were two software licensors, both of whom accepted the terms offered to them and continue to work with Science Warehouse Limited. Mr Darnell resigned shortly before the company came out of administration in July 2002 and the business continues to trade. He is a certified accountant with an MBA from Birmingham University.

Mr Farmer, who was Convergent's financial director before taking over the top post, oversaw the company's transition into a public company.

He said: "I believe that I have successfully steered the Convergent Group through difficult times and that now is an appropriate time for me to bow out as the company enters the next phase of its corporate life."

A spokesman for the company said that the parting was amicable.

Updated: 10:38 Thursday, April 03, 2003