Beleaguered US fashion chain American Apparel has lost its chief development officer after just seven months in the post.

Marty Staff, who joined the business in March, is reported to have left the business on Wednesday although the reasons for his departure remain unclear.

Staff was tasked with jump-starting sales at the struggling retailer when he joined and during his time with American Apparel he added new shop-in-shops in department stores in the UK and was reported to be in talks with Bloomingdales in the US about adding American Apparel shops in to their department stores.

Staff was previously president and chief executive of JA Apparel, owner of the Joseph Abboud brand. He was also president and chief executive of Hugo Boss Fashions Incoporated - the U.S. arm of Hugo Boss.

According to reports, American Apparel chief executive Dov Charney declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding Staff’s departure but he added: “Marty is one of the most experienced and capable professionals in our business, and his contributions to American Apparel have been very substantial.

“Marty is truly a dynamic figure in our industry, and I wish him all the best as he moves to the next chapter of his iconic career.”