Poundland has appointed Simon Twigger, a former Sainsbury’s executive, to replace Richard Lancaster as its trading director.

Poundland's 99p Store takeover will be investigated

Twigger, who has been Sainsbury’s convenience store managing director since 2012, is expected to join the value retailer in September.

Twigger had spent 11 years at Sainsbury’s having joined the business as director for its dairy and convenience foods unit.

Poundland has been on the hunt for a new trading director after it emerged last month that Lancaster had left the business to join the Co-operative Group as managing director of its Funeralcare business.  

Lancaster spent three years at Poundland and prior to that also worked as a boss of Sainsbury’s convenience stores.

Chief executive Jim McCarthy said: “Richard leaves with the appreciation and thanks of the whole company. We wish him well for the future.”

McCarthy revealed last month it is looking at launching smaller store formats, after it reported first-half trading had slowed in the three months to June.

However, the retailer remains healthy with group pre-tax profits in the year to the end of March up 18.6% to £43.7m.

Poundland is awaiting findings from the Competition and Markets Authority over its bid to acquire 99p Stores in a £55m deal.