By Zeba Fatimabrowett_1942352b.jpg

Dixons chief executive, John Browett is leaving his post with the electrical retailer to take charge of Apple's stores around the world.

“Our retail stores are all about customer service, and John shares that commitment like no one else we’ve met, we are thrilled to have him join our team and bring his incredible retail experience to Apple,” said Apple chief executive Tim Cook.

Browett will step down from the Dixons Retail Board on February 20 and will leave the company on April 20 following a handover period.

Dixons’ CEO since 2007Browett, was formerly chief executive of Tesco Plc’s booming online shopping site. He will accountable of supervising Apple’s retail strategy and the development of its stores around the globe from the existing total of around 300.

Browett, who has long been seen as a rising star of British retailing, will be charged with managing Apple’s already phenomenally successful retail strategy and its rapid expansion to all corners of the globe.

He said deciding to leave Dixons, which has recently been through a gruelling turnaround process, was hard.

“The thing about Apple is, it’s an exceptional company, and for me to sit inside a technology company like that and see how it works is really exciting. There is no other job in the UK or elsewhere that I would have wanted," he said.

Succeeding him as group chief executive will be current group operations director Sebastian James who joined the company in 2008. He has worked closely with Browett and played a leading role in delivering the renewal and transformation of the UK and Ireland business.

Before joining Dixons Retail he held a number of chief executive roles for private-equity backed ventures. He was also strategy director at Mothercare and worked for Boston Consulting Group.

Katie Bickerstaffe has been appointed to the new role of chief executive for the UK and Ireland and will also join the group board on February 20.

She joined Dixons Retail in 2008 as group people, marketing and property director and had particular responsibility for the launch of Knowhow, the store portfolio strategy, marketing, customer relationship management and human resources.