Cocosa, the etailer owned by Mohamed Al Fayed, has hired former finance director Stephen Lewis as its general manager as sales soar in its first quarter.

Lewis, who was finance boss at the etailer for eight months to April 2012, replaces former Harrods IT boss David Llamas who exited the business in January after less than a year at the helm.

The etailer, which operates time-sensitive Sales on brands such as Missoni, revealed that its sales jumped 31% in the first quarter of 2013, beating its forecast by 10%. It said that February was its strongest month and accounted for 44% of the revenue over the quarter.

Al Fayed said: “I am delighted to have Stephen on board. His financial experience and direct understanding of the business is just what we need as Cocosa grows.”

Lewis said: “I am thrilled to return to Cocosa. The company has real passion and a unique offering that is thriving in the current marketplace. Working with the luxury brands and the unique partnerships Cocosa creates, are a major contributor to the company’s success. I aim to build on those foundations.”

Al Fayed, who bought Cocosa in July 2011, has been restructuring and expanding the offer.

He said: “Cocosa gives everyone the opportunity to purchase a wide range of luxury designer brands at a substantial discount. I want to make it simple and easily accessible – one click of the mouse and you have your coveted designer handbag.”