Resplendent in a three-piece pinstripe suit, Trevor Bish-Jones gave a great impression of a man without a care in the world at Woolworths' annual meeting yesterday.

Sitting in the middle of the board of directors, the outgoing chief executive leant back and let his chairman do the talking. Mr Bish-Jones could contemplate what job offers he may consider and how to enjoy the rest of the summer.

One of the most likeable men in retailing, Mr Bish-Jones is also one of the most hardworking. In a career spanning 27 years he has never taken more than two weeks off at a time and is keen to spend a bit more time with his wife and two daughters.

Talks over his future at Woolworths began a few months ago. Mr Bish-Jones joined in 2002 and was aware that seeing the group through to either a sale or a much-mooted break-up could take another few years, given the current turmoil on financial markets and absence of private equity buyers.

Richard North, the chairman, decided it was best for Mr Bish-Jones to see out the next three months and leave rather than continue for another year and allow the uncertainty over his future to create more problems for the long-suffering business.

Mr Bish-Jones did not plan a career in retailing. After studying at Varndene Grammar School in Brighton he trained as a pharmacist at the Portsmouth School of Pharmacy. His first job, as a research chemist studying oil shale in Colorado for a company called Tosco, was as far removed from the world of pick 'n' mix as possible.

Boots gave him a ticket back to Britain in 1983 and he spent the next 11 years with the health and beauty chain, first as a store manager before making the move up to buyer.

He joined Dixons in 1994, a time when it was one of the best training grounds in retailing, and he worked alongside Terry Duddy, now chief executive of Home Retail Group, and Kate Swann, now WH Smith's chief executive. After spells with PC World, The Link and Currys, Mr Bish-Jones took the top job in Woolworths. He has continually defended the company and brushed off gibes about its fall from grace. He passionately believes that the group has a place on the high street, citing the fact that it still attracts four million customers each week.

His hobbies include riding, cars, motorcycles and following Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club.

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