Premier Foods has hired former Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer lawyer Simon Rose as its general counsel and company secretary, following the departure of previous GC Andrew McDonald earlier this year.

Rose, who joins from biscuit, chocolate and confectionery company Pladis, joined Freshfields as a trainee in 1991, before moving to Burges Salmon's Bristol office four years later. He made partner at the firm before joining Pladis – the parent company of United Biscuits – as head of corporate legal affairs and company produce in 2003.

His move to food producer Premier, best known for brands such as Mr Kipling, Ambrosia, Angel Delight and Homepride, will see him take responsibility for a team of six and oversee the legal and secretariat functions for the group.

Rose's predecessor McDonald left the company in February this year to join construction company Interserve.

Premier has expanded its product range in recent years, agreeing a co-operation deal with Japanese food company Nissin in 2016 to distribute its products, including instant noodles. Longstanding adviser Slaughter and May advised Premier on that deal.

Slaughters also led on US-based food company Hain Celestial Group's £200m acquisition of Premier's sweet spreads and jellies business in 2012, as well as the company's £1.1bn refinancing in 2014.

Other firms to have advised Premier in the past include Eversheds Sutherland and Gowling WLG, both of which were appointed to the company's first formal roster of external legal advisers in 2010.