Iconic London department store Liberty has hired a new finance director.

Finance director Crispin Mardon is leaving and will be replaced by Paul Harris, who has been promoted to Liberty’s board in the same position, from mid-May.

Harris has been financial controller at Liberty since joining in 2006. Previously, he has held financial positions at Kurt Geiger and Selfridges.

Liberty posted a pre-tax loss of£6.4 million last year, largely as a result of the cost of rolling out its Liberty of London brand.

Liberty’s total group revenue increased to£45.8 million in the year to December 31, from£44 million the previous year. Pre-tax losses deepened from£2.3 million the year before.

Sales at Liberty were up 2 per cent to£38.3 million.

Liberty of London sales rose 8 per cent to£3.2 million. Liberty is planning to open its standalone Liberty of London store on Sloane Street this summer.