Tesco is parting ways with company secretary Jonathan Lloyd and the chairman of its audit committee Ken Hanna.

The departure of Hanna follows Tesco revealing it had over-stated its profits by £250m and The Daily Telegraph reported Hanna dismissed warnings from Tesco’s auditor that the supermarket’s revenues were being manipulated.

Hanna was allegedly told earlier this year by Tesco’s auditor PwC that the company’s commercial income was at risk of manipulation.

Lloyd is responsible for advising the board on legal and governance issues and is expected to leave to take on the same role at another large-quoted company, according to The Sunday Times.

It is understood Lloyd handed in his notice last month before the accounting scandal emerged and will work out his notice until March.

Hanna’s departure is expected to be confirmed before the end of the year and he has worked on Tesco’s board since April 2009 and served as chairman of the audit committee for the previous two years.

He was previously chief financial officer at Cadbury.

News of the senior departures comes a week after Tesco revealed it was bolstering its non-exec board with the appointment of former Ikea chief executive Mikael Ohlsson and Compass Group chief executive Richard Cousins.

 

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