Topman managing director Philip Cooke has jumped ship to River Island after the latter hired him for a similar role.

Cooke will join River Island in spring, and he will be responsible for menswear and kidswear.

A spokesman from the high street retailer confirmed the appointment.

The news comes less than a year after Topman parent company Arcadia Group appointed Burberry’s former chief merchandising officer Paul Price as the new chief executive of Topshop/Topman to replace longtime Topshop managing director Mary Homer.

At the time, Arcadia said Cooke’s role as managing director of Topman, a role he has held since 2015, would remain.

Before he became managing director, Cooke was Topman’s buying director for eight years and head of buying for four years.

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