THERE’S a new man at the helm of the iconic North Yorkshire tearooms chain Bettys.

The appropriately named Andrew Baker has been appointed chief executive of Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate following the retirement of long-serving boss Jonathan Wild.

Mr Baker was formerly chief executive officer at Prince Charles’ organic food company Duchy Originals and has held director roles at Cadbury Schweppes and Tate & Lyle. He joins the Bettys team on May 3.

Mr Baker is the first non-family member to be appointed as chief executive of the firm, and will be taking over its day-to-day control.

He has big shoes to fill as Mr Wild, 58, initiated major growth at the firm since joining his father Victor at the firm in 1975.

Bettys then employed 350 staff and had an annual turnover of £1.6 million.

Today, there are Bettys tearooms in Northallerton and Ilkley, two in Harrogate and two in York.

Staff numbers have risen more than threefold to 1,246, sales have grown to £103 million and Taylors of Harrogate now produces the third largest tea brand in the UK, the best-selling roast and ground coffee brand in the UK and exports to more than 30 countries worldwide.

Mr Wild said he was looking forward to his retirement. He said: “I want to retire while I’m young enough to do the things that I’ve not done all my life. I’ve been like a caged animal for 35 years because I love the outdoors.”

Mr Wild also created and trademarked the iconic Fat Rascal recipe, which is traditionally made using the leftovers from baking. He developed his recipe in secret for fear of being ridiculed by the bakers at Bettys. “They still laughed at me, but now we make 200,000 to 300,000 a year,” he said.

Mr Wild trained in every job in the company before becoming managing director in 1986 and chairman and chief executive in 1996.

Welcoming Mr Baker to the business, a Bettys spokesman said: “Andrew is an accomplished chief executive who brings a wealth of experience in commercial, strategic, international, social and environmental responsibility. His appointment means the future of the business will be in extremely capable hands.”