Home Retailer Group has turned to John Walden to turnaround the fortunes of Argos.

The group has named Walden as Argos md, hoping his background in multi-channel retailing can lift sales.

Walden began his retail career as chief operating officer at Peapod, a pioneer of online supermarket retailing in the US before spending eight years at US retail giant Best Buy where his responsibilities included the Internet and direct channels division and customer centric strategy. Subsequently, he was executive vice-president at Sears, which included Sears Roebuck, Kmart and Land's End, where he led the Internet, catalogue and home services divisions, along with marketing, merchandising and new concept development.

'John brings with him a wealth of multi-channel retail and technology related business experience at senior levels within a range of both large retail organisations and smaller entrepreneurial enterprises. We look forward to John bringing a valuable, fresh perspective to the future development of Argos,' says Terry Duddy, HRG chief executive.

Meanwhile the group has confirmed that Polly Dickens has been appointed creative director at Habitat after being interim director since November.

'Habitat is part of my DNA and I feel oddly like I'm coming home,' she says. 'There has always been the assumption that I was with Habitat, given my long history with [Sir] Terence [Conran], but this is the first time I've worked with the business and I'm extremely excited to be a part of it. I have a lot of love for Habitat and it's a wonderful opportunity to reinvigorate this great brand.'

Dickens will head the creative direction of the brand across all areas of the business and manage the in-house team of designers.

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