The new owner of Dutch high street staple Hema has halved the size of the board from eight to four, the company confirmed on Thursday.

The decision will enable Hema to develop its growth strategy in a ‘more targeted, faster and less complex’ way, the company said, adding that ‘the responsibilities of the affected board members can also be picked up by senior management.’

Last month Hema confirmed it was to be taken over by Dutch entrepreneur and investor Marcel Boekhoorn. The company said at the time the deal would enable Hema to ‘focus fully in the next few years on online growth, international expansion and improving profitability’.

Hema now operates more than 700 stores in nine countries including France, Germany, Spain and the UK, and has a payroll of more than 11,000.