Lidl’s group chief executive Sven Seidel has stepped down amid “strategic disagreements” with the retailer’s owner Schwarz Group.

The discounter revealed Seidel’s departure after less than three years at the helm.

He has been replaced by fellow board member Jesper Højer, who has been with the retailer for more than a decade.

During that time, Højer has held a clutch of senior roles, including heading up its Belgian business and overseeing its international buying operation.

Seidel’s departure is the latest fallout regarding an apparent power struggle between Lidl’s central operations in Germany and its owners.

Seidel took charge after his long-term predecessor Karl-Heinz Holland left due to “unbridgeable” differences over future strategy.

Lidl, which operates more than 10,000 stores across 27 countries in Europe, has also made changes within its UK business.

The former boss of the discounter’s British arm Ronny Gottschlich made a shock exit last year and was replaced by Christian Hartnagel.

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