Steve Parsons is leaving his role as chief operating officer of Grampian Country Food Group to become managing director of Cobb Europe, the poultry research and development company.

Parsons joins the Essex company on 2 October, and will take up his new responsibilities on 1 November, when current general manager Brian Cosgriff returns to the United States.Parsons previously worked for Rainbow Chicken Farms, South Africa's largest integrated poultry producer, from 1993 to 2003.

He held a number of different roles - most recently in the position of group operations director.

James Young, regional vice president of Cobb Vantress, said: "We are excited to have Steve Parsons with such a strong industry background coming on board our team.

"His leadership skills and experience in the integrated poultry business will enable him to be a very strong contributor to our continuing success in Europe, the Middle East and Africa."