Debenhams managing director Angela Spindler has denied she has been restructured out of the department store retailer, saying her exit at the end of the month was based on a mutual decision.

Speaking exclusively to Retail Week, Spindler said: “My ability to continue to add value within an expanded remit has become impossible.”

She said she was “disappointed” by the inference that she had been ousted as part of restructuring or cost-cutting. “That’s absolutely not at the heart of it,” she said. “I had ambitions for a considerably expanded role. To do more and have more influence wasn’t going to happen in the timescale.”

The former head of George at Asda joined Debenhams in February to focus on its marketing and online divisions. She was widely tipped to succeed chief executive Rob Templeman, although he has given no indication as to if and when he might leave.

Spindler said that market conditions have “changed considerably” since she committed to joining Debenhams.

Chief operating officer Michael Sharp has been promoted to deputy chief executive and taken on the marketing and online remit.

Suzanne Harlow, director for womenswear, lingerie, women’s accessories and health and beauty, will be appointed to the executive management board as group trading director.

Debenhams denied that the move related to cutting either costs or its marketing budget. A spokeswoman said that market conditions have changed since she joined and that “the business needs to be addressed by a small management team working closely together”.

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