Paul Stephenson, managing director of Thai Union-owned canned seafood giant John West, is leaving the company at the end of February after four years at the helm.

During his tenure, Stephenson navigated John West through a number of "unprecedented challenges," said the company in a statement, including disruptions caused by the global pandemic, the complexities of Brexit and the impact of extreme inflation on the market.

The group said it would announce his successor at a later time.

Stephenson joined the company in June 2020.