The resignation of the man hired to oversee the day-to-day running of its new online grocery operation is believed to have perplexed bosses at Bradford-vbased supermarket Morrisons.

British-born George Dymond returned from Australia to become operations director of the Morrisons.com online grocery business after holding senior roles with Melbourne-based retailer Coles.

A Morrisons spokesman refused to comment on the resignation but said the supermarket group was ‘cock-a-hoop’ over the launch on online food deliveries which will be extended to Bradford, Skipton and other parts of Yorkshire next week.

According to a Morrisons insider, due to the smooth launch of and success of online grocery sales, Mr Dymond, a supply chain expert who was still undergoing his three-month induction period only a few weeks into his new post, was offered a different role but decided to resign.

Morrisons is looking to the new online grocery business to help it restore its falling market share.