Mothercare chief executive Ben Gordon is to leave the struggling retailer by mutual consent with its board.

Gordon will step down from the retailer on November 17, following the maternity retailer’s interim results.

The departure comes after Mothercare sent out a shock profit warning last week when its UK like-for-likes plummeted 9.6% in the 12 weeks to October 1 and total UK sales dipped 6.4%.

Gordon has been at Mothercare since December 2002 and has repositioned its UK business, acquired the Early Learning Centre and expanded the group’s international business which now operates in 55 countries.

Mothercare chairman Alan Parker said: “We are grateful to Ben for the enormous change and improvement he has brought to Mothercare.  On behalf of the board, I want to thank Ben for his significant contribution to Mothercare and we wish him every success in the future.”

Gordon said: “Over the last nine years as chief executive I have overseen great changes in the group. I’m very proud of the Mothercare team and what we have built together.  Mothercare is now one of the world’s leading retail brands and has huge potential going forward.”

Following Gordon’s departure the executive management of the company will report directly to Parker. The board is beginning its search for a chief executive immediately.

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