Stuart Everson has taken over as managing director of Compass Group's business and industry division Baxter & Platts.

He will remain managing director of Compass's Everson Hewett operation and oversee a combined management team for both brands.

Everson replaces Mike Green at Baxter & Platts. Green has been appointed executive director at Eurest UK.

There have been no redundancies as a result of the move. "They are fairly similar businesses," said a Compass spokeswoman, "but we are keeping both brands because we feel they still have strong recognition."

Food service consultant Chris Brown was not so sure. "Brand recognition is a good philosophy, but clients need to know what they stand for. Differentiating between these two brands is already a problem."