French Connection group finance director Roy Naismith has left the business and stepped down from the board after 12 years in the role.

The fashion retailer said it is searching for a replacement for Naismith, who exited the retailer today.

French Connection chief executive Stephen Marks said: “Roy has been a key member of the French Connection team for a considerable period of time. He has also been instrumental in providing strategic insight on the implementation of our recent initiatives, which are beginning to show progress.

“With these measures now in place, Roy has decided that now is the right time for him to step down. French Connection is extremely grateful for Roy’s dedication and hard work and wishes him well in his future.”

French Connection has been undergoing a turnaround of the business across the past year, which has led to an overhaul of its design team and the appointment of new heads of retail, production and a director of multichannel and marketing.