Sainsbury’s is understood to have hired David Tyler to become its next chairman.

David Tyler, who has previously worked with Argos, Burberry and auction house Christie’s, is said to be the retailer’s choice to replace outgoing chairman Sir Philip Hampton.

According to the Sunday Times and Sunday Telegraph, Tyler has been selected for the position after an extensive search for a suitable candidate.

Tyler has a strong background in retail and was finance director of GUS, the now defunct conglomerate that used to own Argos, Homebase, Burberry and Experian. Before that he was finance director at Christie’s. He is currently the chairman of technology firm Logica and holds several other non-executive positions.

It is understood that Sainsbury’s will make an official announcement on the appointment shortly.

The company’s key investors are thought to have rubber-stamped the move already and Tyler is likely to join the board later this month.

Tyler had been seen as front-runner for the Sainsbury’s role after another potential candidate John Peace - who was chief executive at GUS - became chairman of banking group Standard Chartered.

The appointment comes at a time of strong growth for the supermarket chain under chief executive Justin King.

Recent financial results saw the firm, which is the UK’s third largest supermarket group, post bumper first-quarter profits and the firm has raised £430m to spend on its expansion plans.

Sainsbury’s turned to shareholders for the cash to help fund a total £2bn strategy that will see it add about 2.5 million sq ft in store space by March 2011.

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