Hamleys’ chief financial officer Dunn to step down

Dunn, who is also Hamleys’ deputy chief executive, intends to pursue a portfolio career in the retail and consumer sector.

Dunn joined Hamleys from B&Q in 2005 and has steered it through difficult times and into overseas growth.

He was at the helm when the recession struck, bringing down Hamleys’ then-owner Baugur, and went on to oversee its sale first to French retailer Ludendo and then in 2015 to present owner, China’s C.banner.

In addition to its landmark store on London’s Regent Street, Hamleys has opened concessions in some House of Fraser stores – the latter’s owner, Sanpower, has connections to C.banner – and now has an extensive network overseas including in Russia, Asia and the Middle East.

It is understood that Dunn will be succeeded by Alex Jablonowski, formerly finance director, product and commercial, at Tesco. The handover is under way at present.