John Menzies, the parent company of newspaper and magazine wholesaler Menzies Distribution, has revealed it is looking to recruit its first group CEO in seven years.

The logistics group restructured its management team in March 2007, when then-chief executive Patrick Macdonald stepped down.

Instead of appointing a new CEO, it then chose to have two MDs to run its Menzies Distribution and Menzies Aviation businesses, plus a group FD and a group company secretary on its management executive team.

But this week, the company said: “The board is conducting a detailed review of the group’s senior management structure and is involved in a search process for a chief executive officer for John Menzies. We will make an announcement as soon as we have concluded the review process.”

It also revealed that Craig Smyth, the long-serving MD of Menzies Aviation, has resigned.

Smyth, who was tipped by analysts for the CEO role, was a founder executive of Menzies Aviation and had worked there for 15 years. Menzies said Smyth would “continue in his current role and fulfil all of his contractual obligations.”

It is the latest change at the top for John Menzies. In April this year, it announced Forsyth Black would replace David McIntosh as MD of Menzies Distribution from 1 June. Black has worked at Menzies for 14 years, primarily within its aviation business.

McIntosh announced plans to step down in January “to pursue other interests after completing 25 years’ service.”

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