Bookseller Blackwell’s has made a top appointment after axing its chief executive earlier this year.

The Oxford-based firm has brought in Diane Kerr as managing director of its library supply division.

It follows the departure of chief executive Andrew Hutchings, who was made redundant in April. Mr Hutchings had stayed on temporarily to oversee the restructuring of the library supply division and the process has now been completed.

Mr Hutchings will leave the company in July after overseeing the hand-over to Ms Kerr, formerly managing director of Northamptonshire-based Dawson Books, who has more than 30 years experience in the book industry.

Blackwell’s chairman Trevor Goul-Wheeker said: "Diane has the most extensive knowledge of academic library supply and we welcome the breadth of skills she will bring to the company at board level.”

Ms Kerr added: "These are tough times for the library supply business, however, Blackwell's at this stage of its history is an exciting opportunity and I look forward to the challenge.”

The restructuring has been the result of a drive to put the company into “local ownership”, with individual Blackwell’s bookshops able to run more of their their own business.

The 123-year-old firm will create dedicated business units for its bookshops and library supply operations.

This has already led to 25 job losses, with back office staff leaving Beaver House in Hythe Bridge Street but no further redundancies are predicted.

Some 125 workers are now split between a new office in Cowley and the bookseller’s main shop in Broad Street.

Bosses are aiming to break even by next year when it hopes to implement owner Toby Blackwell’s vision of transforming the business into a John Lewis-style employee partnership