Retailer New Look geared up for its expected stock market flotation today by unveiling a chairman with "unparalleled corporate knowledge and insight".
John Gildersleeve is currently non-executive chairman at Carphone Warehouse and previously held board roles at Tesco, tobacco firm Gallaher and Vodafone.
He is due to take over in January and will replace Phil Wrigley, who has been with the business for nine years and is due to leave at the end of the year.
The fashion chain is widely expected to return to the stock market next year after reportedly hiring the banks Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan Cazenove to examine the possibility of a flotation.
The company, which has 612 stores in the UK and Ireland, is currently owned by private equity firms Permira and Apax as well as founder Tom Singh.
New Look said Mr Gildersleeve’s experience spanned a wide variety of sectors, including retail, property, telecoms and media.
It added: "He brings senior board experience to New Look and unparalleled corporate knowledge and insight."
Chief executive Carl McPhail added that the appointment marked part of a "planned transition in the next phase of New Look’s development".
Two years ago the group abandoned plans to float after a lukewarm response from investors, while a £2bn sale of the business also failed when the company was unable to agree a price with potential suitors.
Weymouth-based New Look was founded in 1969 by Mr Singh, and was taken private in 2004 by Apax and Permira for £700 million, with Mr Singh retaining a 22% stake.
Since then its new owners have invested more than £400 million in the business, although it currently has a £1.1bn debt.
The firm has been less hit by recession than other high street rivals as customers look for cheaper deals.
Earlier this year the group reported a 10% rise in annual earnings - claiming more than a third of British women and girls had bought an item from its womenswear ranges during the year to March 28.
The group also grew its market share to 5.4% and expects it to continue increasing during the current financial year.
