The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has announced a series of senior appointments, with former UK head of retail at KPMG, Helen Dickinson, taking the helm as director general.

Dickinson, who will join the company on 1 December and take up her position on 1 January, will replace Stephen Robertson.

Meanwhile, Ian Cheshire will serve as chairman from 1 October on a two-year contract, succeeding Rob Templeman. Cheshire has been the group chief executive of retailer Kingfisher since 2008.

Templeman will become deputy chairman, replacing Lucy Neville-Rolfe who will step down at the group’s next board meeting. She has been appointed as president of retail trade association EuroCommerce in Brussels.