Heiton Holdings, the Atlantic homecare DIY group, has announced the appointment of Mr Leo Martin (47), as group chief executive designate. He will replace Mr Richard Hewat who is due to retire early in 2000 when he will be sixty.

The appointment is in tandem with a "strategic review of its management structures", chairman, Mr Stephen O'Connor, said. Mr Hewat said the "chief executive needs to have his own team in place".

Mr Martin is currently managing director of the builders merchants, steel and hire division; the largest within the group. He joined Heiton as group finance director in 1986 and has held his current position since 1994. Mr Martin said he looks forward to "leading Heitons into the next century and delivering our ambitious growth strategy".

Mr Hewat has been with the 180-year-old company since 1966. He became managing director in 1975 and was then the fourth generation of his family at the helm. Mr Hewat subsequently became executive chairman but the role of chairman and chief executive was split in 1992. Industry sources say he is likely to remain on the board in a non-executive capacity.