Graham Chipchase, the current group director, Plastic Packaging, is to succeed Leslie Van de Walle as chief executive at global packaging company Rexam (London / UK; www.rexam.com), effective 1 January 2010. Chipchase joined Rexam’s board as group finance director in February 2003 and took on his present position in July 2005.

Van de Walle is retiring from the group to develop his non-executive interests, saying, “I believe that now is the right time to hand over the reins to Graham to take the business forward.”

Welcoming Chipchase’s appointment, chairman Peter Ellwood said he had demonstrated the leadership skills to take the company further, adding: “We look forward with confidence to the next phase of Rexam’s development.”