VIANET chief executive James Dickson is stepping aside to become executive chairman.

Dickson, who has fronted the Stockton-based businesses - formerly called Brulines - for seven years, will be replaced in the top job by Stewart Darling, who has been chief operating officer since 2009.

James Newman is also stepping down as the beer and date monitoring company’s non-executive chairman.

Vianet said the succession changes would be implemented during a transition period until the firm’s year end on March 31.