AFTER a relatively short stint as managing director of Nestl Rowntree in York, Alastair Sykes has been appointed chairman and chief executive of Nestl UK.

Yorkshire-bornMr Sykes, 48, succeeds Peter Blackburn, who retired after ten years in the top post.

He used to live in Skeldergate, York, but has now moved to the South-East.

The new managing director at York is John Sunley, the former Nestl UK technical and human resources director.

Mr Sykes, formerly managing director of Spillers UK - part of the Dalgety Group acquired by Nestl in 1998 - became MD of the confectionery division at York in the same year, helping to increase its share of the UK confectionery market.

Following a career in engineering and production management, Mr Sykes joined Gillette in a sales and marketing capacity before becoming managing director of McCormick Foods.

In his new role he will be in charge of 10,000 people at 18 sites across the country.

Nestle UK now has a turnover of £1.64 billion.

Mr Sunley is a former general manager at the York factory.

Updated: 11:44 Monday, July 02, 2001