Tesco’s Central European clothing boss has quit to become chief executive of online lingerie retailer Figleaves.com, prompting renewed suggestions of a brain-drain at the UK supermarket giant.

It is understood that Julia Reynolds was being lined up to eventually take over from Tesco’s international sourcing chief John Hoerner. She told The Times: “Figleaves offers a great opportunity to be more entrepreneurial. In Tesco, you do get a bit tied down, moving in the shadows of other senior executives. The main board at Tesco is outstanding and there is no need for any of them to move over.”

She is the latest in a series of senior executives to have left the world’s third-biggest retailer this year. Last week, Sainsbury’s revealed that it had poached Dido Harding, chief executive of Tesco’s development programme, to lead the expansion of its convenience store estate as convenience director.

In addition, Tesco Direct chief executive Steve Robinson moved to a private equity-related role last month. And, in June, Tesco operations director John Browett resigned to join electricals giant DSGi as group chief executive, taking over from John Clare, who retired in September.

At Figleaves, Reynolds will lead the company’s UK and international expansion.