Mamas & Papas has suffered a double blow after boss Jonathon Fitzgerald and chairman Derek Lovelock quit their roles at the nursery specialist.

Fitzgerald, who was only promoted from chief commercial officer to chief executive last December, is understood to have departed the business weeks after Lovelock resigned in April.

Lovelock joined Mamas & Papas as interim boss in 2014 and became chairman the following year.

Following their departures, Mamas & Papas chief operating officer Jason Greenwood has been appointed interim chief executive.

A spokesman for Blue Gem-owned Mamas & Papas said Fitzgerald and Lovelock had decided to step down “having completed a successful turnaround” of the retailer.

The spokesman added: “The shareholders would like to thank both of them for all their efforts over the past three years in returning Mamas & Papas to growth and profit in a tough retail climate.”

In its last full-year figures, covering the year to March 27 2016, Mamas & Papas said operating profits almost quadrupled to £5.5m, from £1.4m the previous year, driven by a 20% spike in like-for-like sales.

In January, the maternity and childrenswear retailer said like-for-like sales jumped 11% in the 13 weeks to Christmas Day and were up 10% in its financial year to-date.