Sainsbury’s has poached a key executive from Tesco and axed another senior manager.

Adam Fowle, retail director with Sainsbury’s, will now leave the business at the end of the year and will be replaced with Ken McMeikan.

Tesco’s McMeikan had recently been selected by the chain to take on the role of chief executive of its Japanese operations.

The retailer described McMeikan’s decision as unfortunate timing and denied it was having problems within its Japanese business.

The previous chief executive, Stephen Wheway, had recently left the company to take up a position with Boots.

Fowle marks the sixth senior director to leave Sainsbury’s since Justin King took over the chief executive role in March.

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