Hovis has appointed Tim Stoller as its first convenience director and he will commence the role next week. 

Stoller hails from Lindt & Sprüngli, which he joined in 2010 as head of impulse before becoming grocery business unit controller in 2014, and has also previously worked at Innocent Drinks where he focused on impulse and out of home.

Chad Leembruggen, Hovis commercial director, told British Baker’s sister title The Grocer: “Tim has a track record for developing astute impulse strategies that have delivered revenue, margin and profit growth.”

Hovis is also looking for a brand manager of innovation – another new role – as it plans to focus on “critical” innovation.

The company is still searching for a chief executive to replace Bob Spooner, who resigned his post last October to take up an opportunity abroad, and also for a chief financial officer following Michael Kennedy’s departure in January this year.