Pepco Group, the owner of the PEPCO and Dealz brands in Europe and Poundland in the UK, has announced that its chief executive Andy Bond is to step down at the end of March due to health reasons.

However, he will remain an advisor to the company’s board until the end of the financial year.

Pepco Group said Trevor Masters will take on the chief executive role in an interim capacity from 31 March. Currently group chief operating officer and managing director of Pepco, he will be supported in his new role by the group’s management team which includes chief financial officer Nick Wharton.

The company has now commenced a search for Bond’s successor.