Former Morrisons corporate marketing and operations director Richard Lancaster is to join Poundland.

Lancaster joins Poundland with immediate effect and will take over responsibilities as trading director from current incumbent David Croxon after Christmas.

Lancaster left the grocer earlier this month after a reshuffle of its commercial division.

Lancaster has previously been senior trading director of ambient at Morrisons, trading and marketing director at Jacksons Stores and Sainsbury’s Local, as well as spending two years as managing director of Netto.

Poundland chief executive Jim McCarthy said: “Richard is a highly regarded senior executive in the retail industry, and securing his appointment demonstrates Poundland’s position in the market place and the exciting trajectory we are on.”

He added: “For the sake of clarity and to maintain the pace and progress of trading activity, David will retain operational responsibility for trading up to and including Christmas 2012.

“This will enable Richard to concentrate his energies on understanding the unique Poundland business, trading proposition and develop his plans to accelerate our trading progress prior to becoming operationally responsible.”