Stuart Rose puts together retail A-team

A dream team of retail heavyweights, headed by big-hitter Stuart Rose, has set up office together and is likely to be on the hunt for deals.

The quartet consists of Alan Jacobs, a top mergers and acquisitions specialist, who recently left Citigroup, Steven Sharp, and Rose's longstanding right-hand man Charles Wilson.

Rose had been lined up to become chairman of Debenhams in the event of a takeover by Permira, but the private equity house lost out to rival Baroness. He is understood to be looking for his next deal.

Rose confirmed the four were sharing an office, but would not disclose any plans.

'We won't rule anything in, we won't rule anything out. We're all experienced hands. Four brains have more sense than two,' said Rose. 'Don't read too much into it,' he added.

Jacobs worked at Schroders originally and has previously advised Allders and retail tycoon Tom Hunter.

Sharp has had a long-running business relationship with Rose. He was formerly group marketing director at Arcadia, where Charles Wilson was an executive director.

One retailer who knows Rose said: 'Stuart has a very low boredom threshold. He wants to do something.

'I'd have thought that the number one thing he would be interested in would be House of Fraser, given his very strong clothing background.'