The appointment of Shearer, who will replace Iain Ferguson, is likely to be announced on May 15 when the infrastructure and support services group releases its results, Sky News reported.

Ferguson came under pressure to resign from Stobart investor Neil Woodford in June 2018, after board disagreements led to the sacking of director and former Chief Executive Officer Andrew Tinkler.

Stobart declined to comment on the Sky New report.

(Reporting by Ishita Chigilli Palli in Bengaluru; Editing by Edmund Blair)