Mark Daynes, former chief operating officer of Asda’s George clothing business, has become the latest British retailer to take up a high-profile role in Australia.

He starts next week as group general merchandise manager – the equivalent of a director’s role in the UK – at Target Australia, the 270-strong department store chain owned by Wesfarmers.

Daynes follows other well known British store bosses down under after Wesfarmers’£9.9 billion takeover of supermarket group Coles last year, which also brought control of Target.

Former Halfords chief executive Ian McLeod left the motor accessories retailer to head Coles, where he was joined by former Sainsbury’s director of central operations Andy Coleman and ex-Carphone Warehouse chief operating officer John Durkan. Asda saviour Archie Norman is an adviser to Wesfarmers.

Daynes was placed in his job by search firm Barracuda, which filled a number of the Coles roles.

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