Bonmarché chief Mark Tesseyman is to leave the value fashion retailer.

Tesseyman, who joined in 2005 as retail operations director, will step down in a couple of weeks.

In his most recent role as brand director, he has worked with parent company Peacock Group chief executive Richard Kirk to oversee the revival of the mature womenswear retailer, which recorded a profit surge in its last financial year.

The retailer will not appoint a replacement for Tesseyman. Head of retail operations James Thomas and head of marketing Katherine Scott will report directly to Kirk.

It is unclear whether Tesseyman – who joined from sports fashion retailer Blacks Leisure, where he was operations director – has another job to go to.

During the year to March 31, 2007, Bonmarché bucked the gloomy trend, more than doubling EBITDA to£19 million. Total sales climbed 10 per cent to£195.9 million on like-for-likes up 7.3 per cent.

The group, which also includes young value fashion brand Peacocks, put a potential£800 million sale or refinancing of the group on hold in November because of the credit crunch.

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