Jacques Vert Group chief executive Paul Allen is to exit the retailer.

Allen, who has been chief executive of Jacques Vert since 2003, will leave the Sun European owned retailer next year.

His departure follows the resignation of deputy chief executive Jane McNally in August.

It is understood that the retail group is in the “advanced stages” in finding a replacement for Allen.

The Jacques Vert Group was formed when private equity group Sun European merged Jacques Vert and the Irisa Group, formerly Alexon, earlier this year. It bought Alexon out of administration last September and acquired Jacques Vert in December. When the businesses were merged in January Allen became chief executive of the group.

The combined business includes womenswear brands Alexon, Jacques Vert, Kaliko and Ann Harvey.

In May it was revealed that the staff at Irisa Group’s head office in Luton were to be placed into consultation regarding a potential office move to London to join the Jacques Vert head office.