JD Sports has revealed that ex-Asos chief financial officer Helen Ashton is departing from her position as non-executive director and chair of its audit and risk committee.

The executive, who joined the sportswear giant in November 2021, is exiting her role to “in order to focus on her other commitments”, according to a regulatory filing.

Ashton stepped into the role of interim chair of the group in May 2022 amid a three-month transition period between former executive chairman Peter Cowgill’s exit and the arrival of ex-Morrisons chair Andrew Higginson.

While leading the committee, she was acknowledged for overseeing the “delivery of an ambitious and wide-ranging governance reform programme, including significant improvements and investment in finance, risk management, legal systems and resources”.

Ashton said: “Following a successful period of reform and governance improvements at JD, I am pleased to hand over to a new audit and risk committee chair for the next chapter and to focus my attention on my other commitments.”

Higginson added: “We are very grateful to Helen for her significant contribution over the last few years.

“As chair of the audit and risk committee, she has led a root and branch review and overhaul of corporate governance and financial controls in the group.”

JD Sports, which saw profits drop during its latest annual results, is set to begin a recruitment process to find Ashton’s successor.

Board member Ian Dyson will surpass Ashton as chair of the audit and risk committee in the interim.

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