Geest has promoted chief operating officer Gareth Voyle to chief executive officer, with effect from July 1. Voyle replaces Ian Menzies-Gow, who will be retiring in September 2002 after his 60th birthday. Voyle joined Geest in 1991 from Ranks Hovis McDougall to run the fresh prepared foods business at Geest's main manufacturing site in Spalding. He was appointed to the board in 1995 and became chief operating officer in 1998. Menzies-Gow said: "Since the disposal of the banana interests in 1996, the management team has successfully reinvented the business as a focused supplier of fresh prepared foods. During this period, like for like sales have increased by over 130%. The management team under Gareth Voyle is one of the most experienced in the sector." {{PEOPLE MOVES }}