HMV chief announces plans to step down

Music retailer HMV has announced its chief operating officer Brian McLaughlin is to retire at the end of the year.

He will remain on the board as a non-executive director.

An announcement regarding a replacement will be made in due course, said a company spokesman.

McLaughlin became Group Chief Operating Officer in January 2001, assuming operational responsibility for Waterstone’s and the HMV businesses in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.

The HMV Group operates 550 stores in eight countries, under the HMV and Waterstone's brands, which both operate throughout the UK and Ireland.