The company behind the largest-ever acquisition by a UK software firm has given investment bankers a signal that more deals are on the way, naming its first head of mergers and acquisitions as part of a boardroom shake-up.

Micro Focus International, a FTSE 100-listed software company, has appointed Mike Phillips, its chief finance officer, as director of M&A. He has been replaced by Chris Kennedy, who held the same role at chip manufacturer ARM Holdings and airline easyJet.