Northern Foods executive suspended

THE managing director of Lancashire-based Holland’s Pies has been suspended after claims of a takeover bid, according to reports.

Managing director Neil Court-Johnston has been suspended by Northern Foods bosses while an investigation into alleged serious misconduct is carried out, according to the Lancashire Telegraph.

It is claimed that Mr Court-Johnston entered discussions with rival firms and investors over a potential buyout of the firm.

The investigation centres on whether these talks were carried out without Leeds-based Northern Foods’ permission.

Mr Court-Johnston has told the paper he believed he had consent to seek a management buy-out and that he was now ‘100% committed’ to delivering Northern’s business plan after the firm made it clear it did not want to offload Holland’s.

Mr Court-Johnston was appointed as managing director of Holland’s  in July 2008, having spent three years in other parts of the Northern business. He previously worked for industry giants Kraft and Nestle.