Conservative London mayoral candidate Steven Norris will be confirmed as chairman of embattled support services group Jarvis next Tuesday.
The appointment follows the retirement of Paris Moayedi, which was widely tipped in national newspapers at the weekend. It coincides with the announcement of the firm's half-year results.

A source close to Jarvis said that the group had contingency plans in place in case Norris won the mayoral election, which takes place next year.

The source said: "If he is elected he will have to resign [from Jarvis]. If not he will carry on." The source denied Moayedi had been forced out by pressure from shareholders.

The decision to replace Moayedi follows a turbulent month for the group, which pulled out of rail maintenance and came under fire from a BBC radio programme for its performance on a PFI schools contract in the Wirral last week.