Rumours circulating in the garden industry today that Nicholas Marshall had left his job as CEO of Dobbies have proved be unfounded although two of his senior team – Lorrie Robertson and Andrew West – have left the company. Commuting to Edinburgh has been given as the reason for their decision to leave.

In a statement issued late this afternoon, the company said:

"Dobbies today announced a re-shuffle in some of its senior leadership positions. Graeme Jenkins is to become Chief Operating Officer, in addition to his present role as Chief Financial Officer. Graeme replaces Lorrie Robertson, who has left the Company.

"Marcus Eyles, currently head of online and horticulture, will take the role of Purchasing Director, replacing Andrew West, who has also left the Company for personal travel-related reasons.

"Dobbies congratulated Graeme and Marcus on their new roles.

"Nicholas Marshall, who was appointed CEO at the 35-centre chain, remains Chief Executive."

Nicholas Marshall took over at the top of Dobbies in March last year and within months of his arrival he had put together a team full of former colleagues.

In an interview with GTN last November Marshall said: “The theme here before I arrived was a pound shop. Actually it was worse than that – they had some things that cynical retailers would sell. In the DIY industry they go to China, they buy cheap products, bring it over here, put it at a price which is ridiculous and then they half-price it and people say what a good bargain, and it isn’t. Do we like garish, no.”