Andy King, the former chief executive of Notcutts Garden Centres, is to take on the role of managing director at Dobbies following the shock departure of James Barnes last week.
Mr Barnes left the 32-centre chain along with finance director Sharon Brown. He had been with Dobbies for 23 years.

Mr King, who has lead Notcutts since 2007, will report to Tesco new business md Jill Easterbrook, current chairman for Dobbies. His new job will begin in early September, with Dobbies commercial director Katharine Poulter taking on responsibility for the business until then.

It is hoped Mr King, who has 25 years of experience within the UK and international retail market, will help continue to grow Dobbies across multichannel levels.

A Dobbies spokesperson said: "We are pleased to announce that Andy King is joining Tesco as a general manager where he will take up the role at Dobbies Garden Centres as managing director.

"Andy joins us from Notcutts Garden Centres business where he has been CEO since 2007. He has over 25 years of UK, international and multichannel retail experience with 12 years at board level. Prior to Notcutts he spent his early career at Boots, W H Smith and Mothercare before joining the Body Shop as Global Marketing Director.

"Andy will help continue to grow Dobbies from our current position; and help us focus on bringing the brand to more customers, working across all channels and with the core Tesco business."

It is not yet known who will be taking over the job of finance director Sharon Brown on a permanent basis, but according to a statement from Dobbies, Max Britten, currently working within group financial planning and analysis management at Tesco, is seconded to head up the Dobbies finance team in the interim. Mr Britten, who has various finance and IT experience across companies including Mars, BAA and Unilever before joining Tesco three years ago, will report to Ms Poulter.