Another Dixons boss jumps ship

THE Old Etonian boss of Dixons Carphone has become the latest executive to jump ship at the ailing retailer.

Sebastian James, who has been at the helm for six years, is leaving at the end of April to take charge of High Street chemist Boots.

He will be replaced by Alex Baldcock, former boss of online sales company Shop Direct, in a clear signal the company is pinning its hopes on digital growth.

Dixons unveiled a dive in half-year profits in December, down from £154m to £61m, as customers abandoned it for internet retailers.

James, a 51-year-old father of four who is an old friend of ex-prime minister David Cameron, masterminded the £3.8bn merger of Dixons and Carphone Warehouse in 2014. His departure comes just weeks after finance boss Humphrey Singer left for Marks & Spencer.

Baldcock, 47, is expected to shutter many of the firm’s 1,000 stores and focus on web sales.