John Dunsmore appointed S&N chief executive

John Dunsmore, Scottish & Newcastle's (S&N) Western Europe boss, is to replace Tony Froggatt as chief executive of the group.

The UK's largest brewer was earlier this week refusing to comment on reports that Froggatt was about to step down from the top job, a position he has occupied since 2003.

However today S&N announced Dunsmore was to take up the position of chief executive from the beginning of November.

Froggatt will remain "available to the Chairman and the board for a further three months to ensure a smooth transition".

Dunsmore had been widely tipped to ascend to the top job at the brewer, although it had also been reported that chairman Sir Brian Stewart was drawing up a list of candidates from outside the company.

The new chief executive began his career with S&N as a graduate trainee in sales and marketing, but then spent 13 years in the City, ending up as head of UK Equities at Natwest Securities.

In 1996 he rejoined S&N as director of corporate development before becoming head of UK on trade in 1997.

In 2002 he was appointed chairman and managing director of S&N UK .