Moss Bros is understood to be close to appointing a new chairman to replace Keith Hamill following the collapse of a £40 million takeover bid for the business.

Executives close to Moss Bros said the menswear retailer had offered the job to Barry Gibson, the industry veteran and former retail director of BAA, the owner of Heathrow and six other airports across the UK.

Mr Hamill is keen to find a successor before Moss Bros holds its annual general meeting on June 25.

The move is the first effort by Moss Bros to draw a line under the takeover speculation that has dogged the chain for much of the year.

Baugur, the Icelandic investor that owns a near 29 per cent stake in the business, scrapped plans for a bid two weeks ago after four months of due diligence.

It blamed its decision on the aggressive stakebuilding in Moss Bros by Laura Ashley, the home furnishings chain.

Neither Mr Gibson nor Moss Bros were immediately available for comment.

Mr Gibson began his career at Littlewoods in 1970, before moving to the Burton Group in 1979 and BAA as retail director at the newly privatised business in 1988.

He currently holds non-executive posts at National Express, Homeserve and William Hill. He is also chairman of the Retail Trust.

He would be charged with trying to encourage the various shareholders on the Moss Bros register to put their differences to one side and help the business move on.

As well as Baugur and Laura Ashley, the Moss and Gee families control a 25 per cent in the business. They fiercely opposed Baugur's planned takeover, saying the potential £40 million bid was far too low.

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