Chief financial officer (CFO) Simon Herrick has resigned from his position after the high-street chain posted poor sales figures for the Christmas period and issued a profit warning.

Debenhams posted just 0.1 per cent growth in stores over the past 17 weeks and reported no increases in the week before Christmas.

Simon Herrick who had been CFO for two years had faced criticism for failing to account for costs relating to the relocation of the company’s headquarters and development work to Debenhams’ flagship store.

Neil Kennedy, director of finance, will be temporarily appointed as an interim CFO.