Maplin chairman John Lovering has been appointed as chairman of retail technology and services firm Itim.

The former Somerfield, Homebase and Debenhams executive has joined the business which creates specialist software including stock management and pricing and promotions applications.

Retailers including Home Retail Group, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis, Debenhams and The Entertainer, as well as a raft of overseas retailers, use Itim’s software.

Itim chief executive Ali Athar said: “John joining as chairman of Itim is a huge vote of confidence in our business, it reflects how far we have come from our launch in 2000.”

Lovering said: “I have known Ali for many years and have been very impressed by what Itim have achieved in a very short period of time.

“Itim’s passion for retailing, their industry knowledge, the quality of their people and their impressive customer base attracted me to the business. They have a number of innovative technology solutions which are critical to modern retailing.”