Former B&Q marketing director Stephen Robertson has confirmed 2012 will be his fifth and final year at the helm of the British Retail Consortium.
Members received a letter this week from BRC chairman Rob Templeman informing them of Mr Robertson's decision to stand down in December. Stephen Robertson joined the BRC in 2008 after spending 14 years on the board of several major retailers, many of them in the DIY industry.

He served for seven years as marketing director at B&Q before leading the retailer's acquisition of Screwfix, which he then chaired. He went on to become director of communications at Kingfisher and spent three years on the retail board at Woolworths plc.

Mr Robertson currently serves on the board of the Timpson Group and Hargreaves Lansdown as a non-executive director, roles which he will continue with following his resignation.

He said: "I'm proud of the strength and capabilities of the BRC team and the important work it does. The organisation is in a good position to handle the challenges the retail sector faces. I want to be sure there is plenty of time to find the right person for the role."

BRC chairman Rob Templeman said: "Stephen has made a sterling contribution to the BRC and has moved the organisation forwards both in its policy achievements and in its financial stability. The membership of the BRC has grown significantly under Stephen's leadership and he will leave the BRC in a position of great strength and influence as the leading campaigning organisation for retailers."

The search for a new director general will begin soon. Mr Templeman added: "Until then it will be business as usual for Stephen and his team as the sector faces testing trading conditions."