The fact that Simon Fox is to leave HMV is perhaps not the biggest of surprises. He leaves at a sensible time, with his head held high, particularly after getting suppliers and banks on side in January, when lenders granted the troubled retailer extra headroom.

What is perhaps more surprising is the fact that Trevor Moore is replacing him. The former Jessops boss has done a solid job at the camera specialist, and he has garnered certain qualities that will help him in his role at HMV.

Like HMV, Jessops has had its problems. It too is operating in a market where digitalisation has put traditional retailing under severe pressure. Both retailers are suffering from the threat of etailers including Amazon, as well as the supermarkets. And both have been under intense pressure from their banks – Jessops has been controlled by HSBC since the debt for equity swap in 2009.

So Moore is arguably well equipped to deal with some of HMV’s problems. But does he have the experience to lead the large scale restructuring that many believe is necessary to keep HMV alive?

HMV has a large store base, and while it has already made moves to come out of 60 shops, most expect the retailer to try and close more, through means that could include a CVA.

HMV must also reinvigorate its online business, which has fallen far behind rivals iTunes and Amazon. Some would say it is too late for it to claw back ground, but nevertheless it cannot ignore the migration of entertainment products online and must do more to build a compelling offer.

Now HMV has been put on a firmer footing, Moore must look at how to make the business relevant to today’s market. He must take advantage of HMV’s ‘last man standing’ advantage, which it has in both music and now games after the collapse of Game this year. He must also evaluate the success of the technology offer, and honestly ask himself if HMV can compete with the like of Apple and Dixons as it takes them on at their own game.

It will take radical thinking from Moore to get HMV back on song.

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