Bill Driscoll, the chief executive of food and equipment supplier Brakes, has resigned to return to his native America.
His replacement is Frenchman Bruno Deschamps, who has been a non-executive director at Brakes since 2002.
Following a three-week handover period, Deschamps will take over the chief executive role and the post of chairman, which is currently held by Jim Rogers.
Rogers will leave the board of Brakes but continue to work for private-equity parent company Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.
A Brakes spokesman said: "Bill is going back to the USA for personal reasons but the transition will be seamless. It made more sense to recruit from within to retain some continuity."
Deschamps, a former chief operating officer of hygiene products and services company Ecolab, said: "Under Bill's leadership Brakes has strengthened its position as the UK's leading food service solutions business."
Deschamps's first public appearance as the new Brakes boss will be at the Arena Hospitality lunch on 26 April at the Dorchester hotel in London, when he will replace Bill Driscoll.
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