Neil Sanderson, the man chosen last year to grow the Findus brand in the UK, has been appointed as MD of the group's Czech Republic and Slovakia business.

Sanderson has been with Findus since February 2009, working as business unit director for Findus UK.

He took over the new role from Jes Bjerregaard this week and will report to Findus Group CEO Chris Britton. Bjerregaard will continue with responsibility for growing Findus' business in Denmark and its export arm.

Sanderson's previous role has been absorbed by Findus Group managing director Mark Escolme.

Sanderson joined Findus UK to drive the growth of the brand after a stint as a consultant following his departure from Tryton Foods in December 2007. He spent four years as managing director of Tryton, owner of the Aunt Bessie's brand.

"For me personally this is an excellent opportunity to add to the development of a business in markets with strong growth potential," said Sanderson, explaining his shift away from the UK side of the business.

"It is also an opportunity to work with a new range of customers in, for me, a new culture."

The Findus Group is one of Europe's largest frozen food and seafood companies with a turnover of over £1.1bn and about 6,000 employees across Europe through eight principal businesses: Young's Seafood, The Seafood Company and the Findus brand in the UK, Sweden, Norway, France, Finland, Slovakia, Czech Republic.

The company has strong market positions in vegetables in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and believes Sanderson's appointment will help it push for greater share in the fish, frozen ready-to-eat meals and the recently entered potatoes market through added-value products.

"Neil came to us with a strong background in fmcg, most recently with Aunt Bessie's, and has the right capability, experience and personality to take on this challenge in a new environment," said CEO Chris Britton.