UK biscuit and snack producer United Biscuits has appointed Benoit Testard, the head of its domestic business, as group chief executive.

Testard, who has led United Biscuits' UK operations since 2004, replaces the McVitie's maker's executive chairman David Fish, who will become the company's chairman on a non-executive basis.

"The change has been made because David and the shareholders felt that now was a good time to introduce a CEO to our structure," United Biscuits told just-food yesterday.