Lookers has appointed former Capital One chief operating officer Victoria Mitchell as a non-executive director and Phil Kenny as its new general counsel and company secretary.

The AM100’s second-placed retail group by turnover continued to bolster its know-how in the field of finance with the two appointments which follow the appointment of former HBOS chief information officer Heather Jackson as a non-executive director last month.

Mitchell has been appointed as a non-executive director of the company with effect from December 20.

Previously COO at Capital One (Europe) plc, Mitchell had also previously held the positions of chief risk officer and chief legal counsel for the bank holding company and is a barrister by profession.

She is also currently a non-executive director with the West Bromwich Building Society.

Commenting on the appointment of Mitchell, Phil White, executive chairman of Lookers said: "We are delighted that Victoria has joined the Board of Lookers.

“As well as her legal background, she also brings board experience across operations and risk within the financial services sector. She is another great addition to the board at this very important time for us."

Kenny, described by the group as “a qualified solicitor and has considerable experience in corporate finance and commercial law” in a statement issued via the London Stock Exchange, replaced Glenda MacGeekie on an interim basis with effect from December 20.

Last month Lookers announced that chief executive Andy Bruce and chief operating officer Nigel McMinn are leaving the business at the end of this year.

The pair agreed to step down as Lookers issued a profits warning and revealed the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) began its formal investigation into its consumer credit regulation compliance.

AM reported following the profit warning, on Lookers plan to stepped up its "portfolio consolidation" to improve the future financial performance of the UK's second largest car dealer group.

It will close 15 dealerships and, where possible, relocate or consolidate those businesses into existing group dealerships in adjacent territories.

Of these, 13 would be closed before the year-end, the group said at the time.