THE boss of Holland’s Pies has left the company – less than a year after the controversial exit of the man he replaced.

Ed Hyslop is a high-profile casualty of the management restructure by Ranjit Boparan, the new owner of Holland’s parent company Northern Foods.

It leaves the historic pie firm, one of East Lancashire’s most famous brands, without an on-site managing director.

And it comes less than a year after Neil Court-Johnston, Mr Hyslop’s predecessor, left Holland’s after being accused of trying to sell the business without his bosses’ consent.

A Northern Foods spokesman said: “We can confirm that Ed Hyslop has left the company following the takeover by Ranjit Boparan.

“This is part of the restructuring following the takeover.”

The spokesman admitted he did not know when a replacement would be appointed but stressed that Holland’s had many on-site managers who would ensure the Baxenden factory runs smoothly.

Just last month Mr Hyslop told the Lancashire Telegraph his position was safe.

He spent 10 years at Woodward Food-service before joining Northern in April 2010.

Mr Hyslop is understood to have taken up responsibility for Holland’s last autumn, along with a role overseeing McDougalls Pies in Ireland.

A Northern Foods source said Mr Hyslop was not involved in the day-to-day running of Holland’s in the same way as Mr Court-Johnston was.

Mr Court-Johnston is now the boss of South Wales-based Peter’s Food.

Mr Hyslop was unavailable for comment.