The former group finance director of Next, David Keens, is to join the board of supermarket giant Sainsbury’s as a non-executive director.

The former group finance director of fashion retailer Next, David Keens, is to join the board of supermarket giant Sainsbury’s as a non-executive director.

Keens will take up his new role on Wednesday April 29. His appointment came after Sainsbury’s revealed that Gary Hughes will retire from his non-executive director role on the board following the grocer’s annual general meeting on July 8.

Keens served as group finance director of Next from 1991 until March this year. He will join Sainsbury’s audit committee this week and become its chairman on July 8, following Hughes’s departure.

His appointment was revealed days after Sainsbury’s unveiled plans to axe 800 jobs as part of a restructure to its in-store management teams.

Sainsbury’s chairman David Tyler said: “I would like to thank Gary very much for everything he has done for Sainsbury’s over the last 10 years. He has been a highly effective chairman of the audit committee and made a very valuable contribution to the board.

“We are delighted to welcome David Keens as a non-executive director. His deep retail experience and his knowledge of fast-moving consumer business are particularly relevant at a time when we are growing our own successful non-food ranges.

“This, together with his considerable skills in finance, makes him an ideal addition to our board.”