Primark – the high street retailer known for their low prices has swooped and made a very high profile recruit with the appointment of John Lyttle, who is to become chief operating officer at Primark.

The news comes as a major blow to Matalan where Lyttle was previously based. The appointment was made by Primark’s chief executive Paul Marchant, who has drawn up a 5 year plan to dominate the British discount clothing market and expand overseas.

The exact  details of Lyttle’s buying director role have not been released but it is thought that Lyttle would be expected to replicate Matalan’s improvements to product quality and factory standards. Primark, which is owned by Associated British Foods, said: ‘John Lyttle will have full responsibility for buying and sourcing across the UK and international buying operations.’

His arrival follows the appointment of former Marks & Spencer director Julian Kilmartin as buying and merchandising director and Katherine Kirk, formerly at Gap, as ethical sourcing director last year.