Dixons Carphone retail director Nick Smith is exiting the retailer after 30 years to create the same role at sofa specialist DFS, Retail Week can reveal.

Smith, who joined Dixons in 1988 and became retail director of its three-in-one stores in 2015, will be succeeded by Mike Carslake – current retail director for Carphone Warehouse.

Carslake takes on responsibility for multiple brands at Dixons Carphone’s 3-in-1 stores, and former divisional director Kevin Snowball is stepping into his role at Carphone Warehouse.

Before joining Carphone Warehouse in 2014, Snowball worked for Sofaworks and LloydsPharmacy.

Revolving doors

The director-level reshuffle comes amid string of exits from the electricals giant.

Paul Justice is leaving the business to join Debenhams later this month as retail operations director, and consequently Jeremy Newing will take on the role of central operations director at Dixons Carphone. 

A spokeswoman said: “We wish both Nick and Paul every success in their new roles.”

Justice is the second Dixons Carphone director to be snapped up by Debenhams in less than six months – Sally Hyndman became HR director at the department store business in the spring.

Fenwick appointed Dixons Carphone’s interim head of group IT transformation David Cutts to be its first chief information officer, and Honeybee boss Graham Stapleton is gearing up to take the reins at Halfords.

Earlier this year, Dixons Carphone issued a profit warning, blaming the tough mobile phone market for its woes.