Fyffes PLC has announced that Robert Johnston, chief strategy officer with the InterTech Group in California, has joined the board of the Ireland-based fresh produce group as a non-executive director.

Johnston, 47, has been a director at several businesses including listed companies in the US and Canada, while he was also previously president and chief executive at The Hudson Bay Company, Canada's largest multi-line retailer.

"We are very pleased that Robert is joining the Fyffes board and look forward to his contribution to the future development of the group," said Fyffes chairman David McCann.

"We believe his experience as a director in a range of different businesses will be of great benefit to Fyffes," McCann added.