Heir apparent Alastair Sykes has succeeded Peter Blackburn as chairman and chief executive of Nestlé UK. Sykes, 48, joined Nestlé in 1998 as md of York based Nestlé Rowntree. He was recruited from Spillers UK where he was also md. Sykes will be succeeded as md of Nestlé Rowntree by John Sunley, Nestlé group HR and technical director and former general manager of the York factory. Blackburn announced his retirement last September. In a 35-year spell at Nestlé he worked his way up through the ranks, becoming Nestlé UK chief executive in April 1991. He remains president of the Food and Drink Federation until the end of 2001. {{PEOPLE MOVES }}