Former Robert Wiseman boss Billy Keane to join Graham's board
A former boss of Robert Wiseman Dairies is to join the board of rival firm Graham's The Family Dairy.
Billy Keane, who was managing director of Wiseman until November last year, has been appointed a non-executive director at Graham's.
Mr Keane left Wiseman, nine months after the firm agreed to be taken over by Muller Dairy (UK) in a deal worth almost £280m.
He is non-executive chairman of the dairy industry trade body, Dairy UK.
Mr Keane will take up his new post on 1 December.
Explaining the decision to invite Mr Keane to join the board, managing director Robert Graham said: "Graham's The Family Dairy has ambitious plans to grow our market share that we are determined to fulfil despite challenging trading conditions and a highly competitive UK dairy sector.
"Billy's strong financial expertise will support our long-term investment programme and can help increase a greater return on capital deployed."
This is Graham's second non-executive appointment. In February 2010 the chief executive of Edinburgh-based oil and gas exploration company Cairn Energy, Simon Thomson, was invited to join the board.
Last month, Stirlingshire-based Graham's reported soaring sales and profits for the year to the end of March.
It said its results had been lifted by new contract wins and significant brand investment.
The dairy is based in Bridge of Allan and employs more than 340 staff.