Debenhams veteran retail operations director Nigel Palmer is to leave the department store group after almost 30 years at the business.

Palmer will leave at the end of this month, it is understood, to seek new challenges outside Debenhams.

His departure comes at a time of wider management change at Debenhams, following Michael Sharp’s promotion to chief executive as successor to Rob Templeman.

Palmer has been  Debenhams retail operations director since 2002 and started his career at the retailer in 1984 as a store manager.