Sara Lee ex-chief takes the chair at Thomas Cook

Struggling holiday operator Thomas Cook today appointed a former boss of US food manufacturer Sara Lee as chairman in a bid to turn around its fortunes.

Frank Meysman, whose last executive job was vice-president of Sara Lee, takes over from Michael Beckett, who retires in December.

The appointment follows a torrid year for the tour operator, which has suffered tough trading amid political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa.

Cook has issued three profit warnings and last week saw the departure of veteran chief executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa.

Nicholas Batram, an analyst at Peel Hunt, said Meysman's appointment was "just the first step" on a long list of problems Cook had to address.