Recruits join the board at SuperGroup

SuperGroup has beefed up its board of directors with two new members after a series of setbacks.

The owner of the Superdry brand issued profits warnings at the start of the year and back in the autumn after an IT glitch hit its distribution.

The retailer has hired Susanne Given, the director of fashion and beauty at the John Lewis Partnership, as chief operating officer, and Shaun Wills as finance director. Mr Wills was most recently at the homewares retailer Habitat, which was bought out of administration by Home Retail Group last year.

Chas Howes, the finance director of SuperGroup, which floated at 500p in March 2010, is stepping down on 23 April for "personal reasons". He will remain with the group.

Jean Roche, an analyst at Panmure Gordon, said: "In view of the series of operating and market communication issues which have weighed on the share price, this news is likely to be well received."

SuperGroup last month guided towards full-year profits of between £50m and £54.1m. Its shares closed down 1.5p at 629.5p yesterday.