Mitchell, who retired in 2010, brings a wealth of experience from a high profile career within 3M that included senior roles in general management, sales and marketing, logistics, and manufacturing.

James Cropper chairman Mark Cropper said: "Douglas has direct experience of growing businesses in many sectors relevant to James Cropper and its subsidiaries, not least technical fibre products.

"We are therefore delighted that he is joining our board and we very much look forward to his support as we grow our enterprise in the coming years."

Mitchell, who holds no other current directorships, will also be made a director of James Cropper EBT, which acts as a trustee of the company's pension scheme.