Embattled sports retailer JJB Sports has appointed Ben Sherman international retail director Kate Hayes as its trading director to help drive its turnaround strategy.

Hayes will work alongside retail director Ron Rome and HR and training director Paul Mitford.

She will join the retailer on November 1 and will be based at its Retail Support Centre in Wigan.

Hayes has over 15 years’ experience in retail. Before joining Ben Sherman, Hayes worked at Nike for eight years – initially as European buying and merchandising director and latterly, after a short spell at Tesco.com, as Nike’s UK retail director.

JJB Sports chief executive Keith Jones said: “Kate’s experience in the sportswear market will be a great asset as we continue to strengthen our senior management team and drive the turnaround of JJB Sports. Kate will lead improvements in our product offer to customers, develop strengthened relationships with key suppliers and partners, and manage closely the company’s stock.”

Hayes joins JJB Sports at a challenging time. In May, the retailer reported a full-year pre-tax loss of £68.6m as sales collapsed 42% and the retailer warned that recovery would be “neither quick nor easy”.