Doug Gurr, a former director at Asda, is poised to join online retail giant Amazon in the UK.

According to The Independent, Amazon is close to hiring Gurr in a senior role thought to be UK strategy director. He left his role as Asda’s executive development director.

Gurr was responsible for strategy and logistics at Asda and Amazon wants to hire him for his experience in growing the grocer’s online channel.

Gurr left Asda in January then helped parent Walmart with the acquisition of the Massmart chain in South Africa for some months.

When his departure was unveiled in December, Asda chief executive Andy Clarke said he had “transformed Asda.com into Britain’s second-biggest home shopping service”.

It is understood Gurr will join Amazon later this year, possibly next year.