Just Eat chairman takes leave of absence citing medical reasons

The executive chairman of the online food-ordering service Just Eat has taken time off work for medical reasons.

The FTSE 250 company, which is currently searching for a new chief executive, said John Hughes was taking a leave of absence “in order to undergo treatment for a medical condition”.

The task of acting as interim chief executive has now fallen to Paul Harrison, while Andrew Griffith, an independent director, will act as chairman. Mr Griffith, along with the rest of the board, is to complete the search for a permanent chief executive.

In February David Buttress, chief executive since 2013, announced he was standing down because of “urgent family matters” but would continue as a non-executive director.