Bradford mail order giant Grattan is still on the lookout for a new chief executive four months after former boss Steve Bullas left following a row.

Mr Bullas left Grattan in May after a dispute with its parent German company Otto Versand over the future of the group.

His place was taken by finance director Peter Lomas who has extended the date of his retirement until the company finds a new chief executive.

Mr Bullas's departure was shortly after Otto Versand added London home shopping business Freeman to the group.

He has always refused to comment on why he left so suddenly after three years at the helm.

But it is believed it was because he wanted to be chief executive of a merged Grattan and Freeman business.

Peter Lomas said: "I should have retired in May but when Steve Bullas left I agreed to extend the period before my retirement until November. The appointment of a new chief executive for Grattan is being dealt with by the parent company Otto Versand and they know they have got to act quickly.

"When senior appointments are made in a company they often take a long time because people have to sign new agreements and discuss current ones."

Mr Bullas took his time in the search for a new job but has recently joined the Huddersfield-based Bon Marche group.

He said today: "I joined Bon Marche and even though it is a much smaller company the challenges are the same. I chose Bon Marche because it operates in the area I enjoy. It has doubled in size in the last three years and I want to see it expand even more.

"Bon Marche is a company I have watched closely over the years and I feel privileged to now be part of its management team." Bon Marche has a branch in Broadway, Bradford, and a total of 200 branches nationwide.

The firm employs 1,800 people and has a turnover of more than £100 million

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