Vansteenkiste is set to step down within months, according to Sky News, with headhunter Spencer Stuart drafted in to secure a successor.

Vansteenkiste will leave the retailer after taking the job last August on an interim basis as the department store retailer sought to complete its financial restructuring.

His departure coincides with the period within which creditors could challenge Debenham’s CVA expiring, which would allow the departure store chain to proceed with a £100m debt-for-equity swap.