Sodexho Alliance founder Pierre Bellon has appointed an heir to his contract catering empire. Michel Landel, who has been at the French food service giant for 20 years, will take over as chief executive officer on 1 September 2005. He will step up from his current role as co-chief operating officer and spearhead the group's efforts to reverse two years of shrinking profits. Bellon, 74, will step back from day-to-day management to ensure "that directors are capable of fulfilling their roles".