A new managing director for Booker will not be appointed for at least 12 weeks, says Bill Grimsey, chief executive of the parent Iceland group. Grimsey, who has just completed his first week at the head of Iceland, said he was prepared to take his time over the appointment for the cash and carry group. "I have made it clear to the Booker team that I will not be rushed into this. I want to make sure that we build a very strong team. "I am looking for a good operator with a good trading background and possibly some experience of the sector. It could either be an internal or external candidate." Grimsey has moved more quickly at Iceland's frozen food chain, with the appointment of group finance director Andrew Pritchard as md after Russell Ford's decision to quit in Grimsey's first week. He blamed differences in management style on Ford's decision to leave Iceland. "Russell was very much an entrepreneurial manager in the sense that he liked total autonomy. It was clear that was going to be in conflict with my style, which is to have a framework and controls in place to work by. We talked about it and he said it was best if he moved on." Ford worked at Iceland for six years. But Grimsey insisted colleagues were not shocked by the sudden decision. Iceland also lost the current md of Booker this week when Charles Wilson was allowed to join Arcadia earlier than expected. "I would dearly loved to have persuaded him to stay under different circumstances. But he was a lost cause," said Grimsey. Wilson resigned in November and was not due to leave Booker until March, but has now been allowed to bow out early. Grimsey said: "When people have checked out they have checked out. No matter how hard they work to give you commitment and effort, their minds are elsewhere. And commitment is a big thing for me." Until a replacement for Wilson is found, his duties at Booker will be split between directors Ken Bootyman, Shaun Birrell and Mike Camp. They will report to Grimsey. - More on Iceland's management changes in People, p60. {{NEWS }}

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