Tesco veteran and chairman of Carphone Warehouse John Gildersleeve is expected to bring extensive City experience to his new position as chairman of New Look.

Gildersleeve, who will take the reins in January from Phil Wrigley, joins ahead of the fast fashion retailer’s expected IPO.

Numis analyst Nick Coulter said Gildersleeve has “an abundance of experience, both from a retail perspective and a corporate perspective, given his experience in the upper echelons of public companies”.

Retail analyst Nick Bubb said: “He has a tough guy reputation at Tesco and is an effective chairman at Carphone Warehouse.”

Bubb added that he expected the company strategy to remain the same with Gildersleeve adding weight to the IPO.

Gildersleeve was previously chairman of music company EMI and cigarette manufacturer Gallaher and has held board positions at Vodafone and Lloyds TSB. He is also a non-executive at British Land. Headhunter Korn/Ferry Whitehead Mann placed Gildersleeve at New Look.

He will work with chief executive Carl McPhail, and Wrigley will step down after nine years with the retailer.