Reed Elsevier said Tuesday that it has appointed Anthony Habgood to succeed Jan Hommen as chairman with effect from June 1.

Habgood's appointment is subject to being named a member of the supervisory board of Reed Elsevier NV at an extraordinary shareholders' meeting to be held in May, the company said.

As announced on Jan. 29, Hommen is stepping down from Reed Elsevier at the conclusion of the Annual General Meetings on April 21 and 22. David Reid, senior independent director, will be acting chairman until Mr Habgood takes up his position.

Habgood will relinquish his positions at Bunzl and SVG Capital, of which he is chairman and a non-executive director respectively, by July 1.

He will remain as chairman of Whitbread.