Levi Strauss Europe vice president of retail Mark Saunders has been appointed chief executive of Habitat.

Saunders' appointment is understood to have been announced internally to employees today.

He replaces Jens Nordahl who resigned last June to take up a post at Lego Holding.

In the same month, Habitat’s UK country manager Ruth Dangerfield left the business as the retailer implemented a new organisational structure.

Habitat last year also revealed it was undergoing a UK property review as part of its plans to revive its fortunes. In September, it closed stores in Hammersmith and Kensington High Street to take space in the Westfield London scheme. In October, it closed its Bromley shop.