Duncan Tatton-Brown took up his position in one of the most high profile finance positions in retail this week.

Tatton-Brown takes reponsibility for the Ocado piggybank at a time when the online grocer’s finances are in the spotlight, following analyst speculation that the business could breach its banking covenants. A suggestion, it should be said, that Ocado vehemently denied.

Ocado is investing heavily in its new Customer Fulfilment Centre in Dordon, Warwickshire, which is scheduled to open next year and careful balancing of the books will be key as the City holds its breath to see if Ocado can make a full-year pre-tax profit.

But the respected Tatton-Brown will be up for the challenge and has already invested, along with his wife Kate, in 100,000 of his new employer’s shares. He would have been dismayed to watch the stock drop 20% shortly after following Ocado’s interim results.

His career history packs more heavy hitters than a Don King boxing bill, including Debenhams, B&Q and its parent Kingfisher, Burton Group and Virgin. He is also a non-executive director of pest control giant Rentokil.

He joins Ocado after two years at Fitness First, which ended in February, just months before the country’s biggest gym chain was saved from administration when landlords approved a deal to reduce their rents by more than 70%.

However, Ocado’s board has been clear that Tatton-Brown is a safe pair of hands. “Duncan’s appointment reflects the need for Ocado to operate with continued financial discipline as we grow,” said chairman Lord Grade on his appointment.

And Tatton-Brown tells Retail Week this week that the opportunities at Ocado are “huge”.

He says: “I joined Ocado because I believe online is the future of retailing, and I saw that at Ocado they have built a great business with great people and so the opportunities are huge.”

When not watching the finances, Tatton-Brown is sports mad. He completed the Etape 2012 cycling tour and a triathlon in London this year, as well as the London marathon last year.

He says: “My proudest achievement is finishing a stage of the Tour de France open to amateurs. It increased the admiration I have for Bradley Wiggins and co as I only did one stage.”

Tatton-Brown may be pedalling uphill in his first year at Ocado as the business enters a new era. But he will be confident he can forge a strong partnership with chief executive Tim Steiner and lead the etailer towards that elusive pre-tax profit.