Littlewoods chairman to step down

Littlewoods Shop Direct chairman David Simons will step down next month after more than five years.

He plans to concentrate on his directorships of Woolworths and food manufacturer Greencore, as well as his chairmanship of international management consultants PIPC.

Simons oversaw the sale of Littlewoods to its present owners in 2002 and led the retailer's response to the Competition Commission inquiry into the merger of Littlewoods and Shop Direct. He will leave the company on May 31.

He has been chairman of the group since 2001 after being a non-executive director from 1996.

Simons was awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours for his contribution to the retail industry over the past 40 years.