East Anglian department store group Roys has made a new top-level appointment after its chairman stepped down after nine years.

Roger Ridley Thomas has announced his decision to leave the company and has been replaced by Tim How, who has already been serving as non-executive director since January.

Mr How is chairman of safari park and leisure company Woburn Enterprises, senior independent non-executive director of the Henderson Group, Dixons Carphone and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He was previously chief executive of Majestic Wines and the Bejam Group.

“Throughout my time on the board, I have admired the common values shared throughout the company and its consistent focus on putting the customer first,” Mr How said.

“It will be an honour to become chairman of this company and I look forward to it continuing to deliver on its strategy for growth.”

Roys, which is based at Wroxham, has a total of 10 stores in Norfolk and Suffolk, inclucing branches in Sudbury, Beccles and Thetford.

It announced in October that it would be investing £750,000 in fitting 2,700 solar panels on its five branches in Dereham, Sudbury, Thetford, Bowthorpe and two in Wroxham.

Mr Thomas, the departing chairman, said: “It has been a privilege to have been the chairman of Roys over the past nine years and on the board for the past 18 years. It is a company with tremendous potential and I’m sure Tim is the right person to chair the board for the next phase of its development.”

Ed Roy, managing director, said: “I would like to thank Roger for his contribution to the business over the last 18 years and in particular his guidance in helping to steer the succession of ownership and management of the business between the generations of our family.

“We are delighted Tim has accepted the role of chairman. He has a very strong record in both managing and chairing consumer businesses, a deep understanding of Roys’ operations through his role as a non-executive and a strong empathy with our ethos, culture and commitment to serving our customers.”