Hugh McPherson

managing

director

AG Barr

Hugh McPherson is to step down as managing director of AG Barr for health reasons. It is understood that McPherson, 46, has been ill for some time. He was appointed from United Biscuits in January 1998 by executive chairman Robin Barr, then 60, who said McPherson would take over the running of the company ''in the foreseeable future''. AG Barr announced the decision ''with considerable regret'', but said McPherson had suffered a number of health problems which had ultimately led him to decide that he would be unable to return to his duties. McPherson was educated at Hamilton Academy and Glasgow University and spent 18 years at United Biscuits. He was brand group manager at McVities, marketing controller at Terry's and later at McVities, and between 1990 and 1997 was managing director at McVities Cakes, KP Nuts and KP Crisps.

A spokesman for AG Barr said Robin Barr would continue to combine both roles for the time being.