A former Best Buy executive vice-president has been appointed managing director of high-street catalogue retailer Argos.

John Walden (pictured), who was with Best Buy from 1999 to 2007, was also executive vice-president at Sears – which included Sears, Roebuck, Kmart and Land’s End.

There, he led the internet, catalogue and home services divisions, along with marketing, merchandising and new concept development.

He was also chief operating officer for Peapod, a pioneer of online supermarket retailing.

Of his new role, which he takes up at the end of this month, Mr Walden said: “I’m particularly looking forward to working with the Argos team to drive its leading position in multi-channel retailing.”

Terry Duddy, chief executive of Argos parent company Home Retail Group, said of Mr Walden: “He brings with him a wealth of multi-channel retail and technology related business experience at senior levels within a range of both large retail organisations and smaller entrepreneurial enterprises.”

He said he looked forward to Mr Walden bringing a fresh perspective to the future development of Argos.