Bradford-born businessman Peter Marks has been named as the new chief executive of the merged trading businesses of the Co-operative Group and United Co-operatives.

Mr Marks is currently chief executive of United Co-operatives.

The process of getting the new £9 billion turnover businesses together will get underway immediately with the aim of creating one business in one year.

In announcing his executive team Peter Marks said he has combined the strengths of both societies top management pools in a new executive team who have clear lines of authority and accountability for the society's diverse trading business portfolio.