Hugh Harvey has stood down from his role as managing director of electricals group Comet.

Commercial director Bob Darke, who has been with Comet for more than 10 years, has taken the helm at the Kesa-owned business with immediate effect.

Harvey has left “to pursue interests outside the group”, a Comet spokesman said.

Harvey, who has run the business since 2006, is the latest senior director to exit Comet. Services director Toby Lousada and business support director Richard Boult left the electricals specialist as part of a restructure following disastrous Christmas trading when like-for-likes slumped 7.3%

The retailer is expected to update on trading next month.

The spokesman said Comet will accelerate its strategy of strengthening differentiation, adapting its product mix, expanding multichannel operations and reshaping its store portfolio.