At present, Wilkinson is a senior independent director of food company IAWS. He was executive chairman of food producer RHM, which supplies brands Hovis, Mr Kipling, Sharwoods and Bisto, for six years until 2003. Wilkinson has also held several high-profile positions at food producers Unilever and Grand Metropolitan.
Thorntons also revealed the forthcoming retirement of John Thornton - the last remaining member of the Thornton family and grandson of the group's founder.
Thornton, a non-executive director, joined the company in 1966 and became managing director in 1982 and was later chairman and chief executive between 1987 and 1995.
Non-executive director John Jackson also announced his intention to retire from the board.
Jackson joined the company in 1995. He was previously managing director of the Body Shop International. Thornton and Jackson will both step down following a board meeting on September 1.
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