Macfarlane names new chief executive

Macfarlane Group has finally appointed a new chief executive, six months after Iain Duffin stepped down.

Peter Atkinson takes the role with immediate effect and Sir John Ward, who was acting as executive chairman in the interim, has also announced that he will retire on 1 November. Independent non-executive director Archie Hunter will become non-executive chairman.

In a statement, Hunter said Atkinson had an outstanding sales and marketing background, in-depth business to business experience and a clear understanding of the issues facing the Scottish packaging group.

Atkinson has held sales and marketing posts at Procter & Gamble and SC Johnson and spent the last three years at US automotive and materials handling business Brambles Industries.

His immediate priority will be to restore profitability.