WHATMAN, the Maidstone-based separations firm whose chairman was forced out by disgruntled shareholders, has found a new leader to spearhead change.

Bob Thian has taken over from Simon May following an urgent search by headhunters.

His brief is to get the company back on track after poor share performance and weakening stock market confidence, blamed on what shareholders claimed was a confused strategy.

A group of powerful shareholders urged Mr May to step aside because he did not have enough experience of pushing through the radical change they believe Whatman needs.

Whatman was attracted to Mr Thian's record of change management, his knowledge of the sector - Whatman is an important supplier to healthcare companies - and his international experience.

Mr Thian was previously with pharmaceutical companies Glaxo, Abbott Laboratories and Novo Industri. He has also been chief executive of North West Water and the Stationery Office.

He is chairman of Astron Group and Orion Group, and has been a non-executive director of Celltech and Medeval.

Mr Thian said: "I am delighted to be joining Whatman, a world class company in its field.

"The enthusiastic management team has ambitious plans and I look forward to working with them to realise the full potential of the company's technologies and products _ for the benefit of both its customers and its shareholders with immediate effect."

Mr May has returned to his former role of deputy chairman.