Value chain QD Stores managing director Justin Farrington Smith has resigned after eight years at the helm.

As a result QD Stores has restructured its management team, hiring former Morrisons operations controller David Haycox as its operations director. He will report to group chief executive Nick Rubins.

James Collins has been promoted to associate director for trading and Karl Ottolangui has been promoted to associate director for logistics.

Farrington Smith is moving on to take a senior role within the global logistics market after alerting the Board of his intention to leave the business last year.

He said: “QD is a wonderful company with some great people and I’ve loved my time working here.

“However, I have been made an offer with tremendous prospects I felt I should take with a rising star in the containerisation sector.”

Farrington Smith joined the board of QD from Safeway in 2006. During his tenure he almost doubled the retailers’ stores, introduced own brands and developed a transactional website which is set to launch in March.