Griffiths will become a non-executive chairman at the end of 2016. He said he was delighted to welcome Allen on board to lead the next stage of 450-staff Premier’s development.
Allen will start in the role on June 1.
Allen was chief executive of Paperlinx from December 2012 but had been performing the role in an interim capacity since August. During the financial year to June 2013, losses at the group were slashed from A$266.7m (£156m) to A$90.2m, on sales down nearly 15% to A$2.8bn.
He was replaced by Andrew Price in September 2013.
Premier Paper marketing director David Jones said: “The appointment of Dave Allen was the result of working closely with a senior recruitment specialist over a considerable length of time. The process resulted in a large number of applicants from many different business sectors but the industry knowledge and business management experience offered by Dave made him the most suitable candidate.
“We are very fortunate to have Dave joining the Premier team as managing director.”
There have been a number of other job changes in the upper echelons of Premier’s management. Previous group supply chain director Richard Minns has retired after 30 years in the industry. His role has been split in two and will be taken up by Chris Evans, formerly with Marstons, who will become logistics director, and Frank Herbert, formerly with Cadbury Schweppes, who will become supply chain manager.
Jones said of the appointments: “We have been working with recruitment specialists over the last 18 months or so to identify the most suitable candidates for the various positions and Chris Evans and Frank Herbert both have skill sets that are appropriate for our industry.
"At the same time, their experience of working in other sectors enables them to bring fresh thinking to our processes."
Former group finance director Courtney Candler has become a non-executive director with financial controller Simon Taylor being promoted into this role.
Joining the supervisory board as non-executive director is Malcolm Cook, previously a senior partner in corporate finance at BDO in Birmingham.
Last year, Premier bought the former Tullis Russell brand Advocate from KPMG, three months after Paperlinx went into administration.
With a head office in Minworth, Birmingham, Premier Paper has 16 branches in the UK and stocks more than 5,500 paper products, along with packaging and wide-format laminates. Projected turnover for 2016 is £225m.
Jones added: “Any well-run organisation will be looking to the future and have succession plans in place that ensure the continuity of the business. The objective for us is to continue to build the strength and depth of the Premier team at all levels.”
