Davidson will be the interim chair at Mecom

Stephen Davidson, the former chief executive of Telewest, is to head the European newspaper group Mecom as interim executive chairman following the resignation of the group's chairman, Alasdair Locke yesterday.

Mr Locke had close links with Mecom's former chief executive, David Montgomergy who stepped down earlier this month. The company yesterday said that Mr Davidson would become non-executive chairman after the appointment of a new chief executive.

Mecom shares, which have gained 14 per cent since its 12 January rejection of an all-share merger proposal from the British publisher Trinity Mirror, fell 2.7 per cent to 270.5p yesterday.