Canadian food processing giantMaple Leaf Foods, Toronto, said its board appointedPurdy Crawfordas non-executive chairman effective June 22, 2011.  Prior to the passing of the company's long-serving Chairman G. Wallace F. McCain on May 13, 2011, Crawford was vice chairman and lead director, said Maple Leaf.

Officials said Crawford will retire from the board by the company's next annual meeting in April 2012, will serve as chairman until the annual meeting or such earlier time as determined. Maple Leaf said its board also appointed a committee composed of four independent directors (with Dr. Chaviva M. Hošek as chair) to review and make recommendations on the future, ongoing position of chairman.