Karren Brady to head Sir Phillip Green's retail empire

Karren Brady, the West Ham United chief executive and regular on The Apprentice business reality show, has been appointed by renowned business magnet Sir Philip Green to chair his retail empire, as prominent Barrister Anthony Grabiner steps down.

Brady is expected to assume the role of non-executive director of the Green family firm, Taveta, which controls Arcadia and in turn owns fashion chains Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and Dorothy Perkins and previously BHS.

She succeeds Lord Grabiner, who is to leave Taveta after 15 years at the helm.

The announcement follows the company's most recent annual results which revealed a drop in pre-tax profits from £172m to £37m in the year to 27 August 2016.

Sales dropped 2.5% with business impacted by costs derived from the collapse of BHS.

Sir Philip said he was "delighted" to announce Brady's appointment to chair the board, which she has assumed immediately, and thanked Lord Grabiner for 15 years of service.