The Hutchison Whampoa group has announced a major restructuring of the management of its port and port-related activities. Hutchison Port Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa which controls the group's interests in ports and related services worldwide, said it had appointed John Meredith group managing director. Mr Meredith would also take up the post of deputy chairman and chief executive of Hongkong International Terminals (HIT), the territory's leading terminal operator of the four operators at Kwai Chung. Richard Pearson has filled Mr Meredith's former position as managing director of HIT, which was to oversee and co-ordinate activities with Yantian, Cosco-HIT, Mid-stream Holdings and River Trade Terminal, besides its own development. Derek Harrington has taken over as managing director of Consolidated Ports (UK) and deputy chairman and chief executive of Port of Felixstowe. Consolidated Ports would be responsible for Hutchison's port and related interests in Britain. Peter Benett has become managing director of Port of Felixstowe. Analysts said there was speculation that Hutchison Port Holdings or HIT might be spun off by the Hutchison group.