Mr Meldrum, who joined the company in 2002 and has been working as part of the new Cobb Europe business development team, is moving to the United States this month and will be based at the Cobb-Vantress Inc headquarters in Arkansas.

Mr Hughes has worked for Cobb since 1997, initially as manager of grandparent and great grandparent selection, then research geneticist responsible for breeder and broiler trials before becoming product manager last year. He will be moving to Europe in the autumn.

"Cobb business is becoming more global all the time. We want our young people to receive the opportunity of being exposed to different markets and cultures," says Jerry Moye, vice president of Cobb-Vantress Inc.

"Euan's exposure to the US 'bottom-line driven' business atmosphere will be a great help to him and our Cobb Europe team as this approach is a key part of our EU marketing plan.

"Jay has been working closely with our Cobb 700 business in the US. We see 2005 as a year in which we will introduce the Cobb 700 to the EU market, and having Jay in place will be an asset to our European team."

Euan Meldrum, who will be working at the Cobb-Vantress Inc headquarters in Arkansas

Jay Hughes will be moving to Europe in the autumn