Tate & Lyle appoints new chair after four-month search

Tate's former chair Gerry Murphy announced in July that he would step down after more than six years to become the new chair of Tesco, officially leaving the company in September.

Hearn, who is currently the chair of UK-listed Safestore Holdings and New Zealand-based The a2 Milk Company, has held senior roles in a number of food and beverage companies including Del Monte, PepsiCo and United Biscuits. He is due to step down from The a2 Milk Company in November.

He also served as chief executive of Goodman Fielder, a listed Australian food business, between 1995 and 2001.

"The board is delighted that David Hearn will be joining Tate & Lyle as Chair in January," said interim chair Warren Tucker. "David's breadth of experience, skills and knowledge, particularly of the food industry, will complement and further strengthen Tate & Lyle's board."

Commenting on the appointment, Hearn said: "I am delighted to take on the role of Chair of Tate & Lyle at what is an exciting time for the business. Tate & Lyle is a business with a deep sense of purpose, in a strong financial position, which puts its customers at the heart of everything it does."