Simon Pilkington, managing director of Masons Paper and North West Paper, will now also take on the responsibilities of managing director of Southern Paper.

Keith Davies, who was managing director of the southern region, has left the company. No further details were available at this time.

Chris Grice, PaperCo's group purchasing director, has been appointed as commercial director and will manage procurement for PaperCo and represent marketing for the executive board.

Carl Dearing, formerly business unit director of Rothera & Brererton, has been promoted to managing director of the division and Dixon & Roe and will oversee national accounts.

King said: "We appreciate Keith's contribution to the company and his loyal service over many years and we wish him well in the future."

He said the company's executive board and headquartered administration should focus on supporting PaperCo's regional merchants, but leave them free to run relatively autonomously at a local level.

King re-joined PaperCo from PaperlinX in July where he had been chief financial officer UK and Ireland.

At the time, Paperlinx underwent a major reshuffle with a change in managing director at its UK merchant operations, Robert Horne and PaperCo.

Other operating divisions within PaperCo, a merchanting division of Paperlinx, include Donald Murray Paper, M6 Papers, Reel Paper and Europoint Display.


PaperCo changes

Masons Paper/North West Paper MD Simon Pilkington - MD of Southern Paper
Former Southern Paper MD Keith Davies has left
PaperCo's group purchasing director Chris Grice - PaperCo commercial director
Rothera & Brererton business unit director Carl Dearing - MD of R&B and Dixon & Roe