Supermarket group Sainsbury's today lifted uncertainty over its management team by appointing a new finance director from retail chain CarpetRight.

Darren Shapland, aged 38, will be paid a basic salary of £400,000 as well as annual bonuses when he replaces Roger Matthews, who announced his intention to leave in October.

Mr Shapland has been finance director of CarpetRight since 2002 and previously held top level posts at high street chain Superdrug and Top Shop group Arcadia.

The move follows a tough period for Sainsbury's, which hit a new low in its 135-year history in November when it announced half-year losses for the first time.

The former number one supermarket, which is in third position behind Tesco and Asda, has been working on improving its supply chain in recent months, with chief executive Justin King launching a sales-led turnaround programme.