Johnston chairman snaps up BPI shares

IAN Russell, chairman of Johnston Press, owner of The Scotsman, has bought £32,500-worth of shares in British Polythene Industries (BPI).

Russell, who joined the board of Greenock-based BPI in July as a non-executive director, snapped up 10,000 shares in the plastic film maker at 325p each.

The purchase takes his stake in the company – for which he serves as chairman of its audit committee – up to 15,000 shares or about 0.06 per cent.

A chartered accountant by training, Russell is also chairman of Advance Power and Remploy and was a former chief executive and finance director at ScottishPower.

His other non-executive appointments include the boards of the Mercantile Investment Trust and British Assets.