Retail Trust chief executive Nigel Rothband has stepped down from the charity which supports those who work in retail.

Rothband, who left the trust this week after nine years with the charity, will be replaced by chief operating officer Rob Mansell on an interim basis until a successor is appointed.

Rothband is credited with launching the Retail Trust Employee Assistance Programme which now provides assistance to the three million people who work in the retail industry in the UK.

John Lovering, chairman of the Trustees at the Retail Trust, said: “Nigel has shown great commitment and dedication to Retail Trust for the last nine years but we believe this represents a good opportunity for the trust to move on to its next stage of developments while Nigel will find new challenges to use his leadership talents.”