Commercial director to leave Wm Morrison Wm Morrison, the supermarket group, is set to part company with another senior executive as its sales continue to deteriorate. Richard Hodgson, the group's commercial director who joined from Waitrose two years ago, is expected to leave the Bradford-based supermarket chain imminently. Mr Hodgson's departure could be announced as early as Thursday, when Morrison issues a trading statement, according to several people familiar with the situation. Analysts forecast that the chain will report a 2 per cent decline in sales from stores open at least a year in the past three months. Morrison declined to comment. Mr Hodgson was one of chief executive Dalton Philips" first appointments after he took over at the group in 2010 and was praised by Mr Philips on several occasions. However, several analysts have become concerned about Morrison's performance in certain areas and are worried that it is losing core customers to rivals such as Aldi, which is expanding rapidly. Mr Philips is expected to come under pressure on Thursday over the worsening sales figures, which will pose the biggest test of his leadership since he joined Morrison from Canadian group Loblaw in March 2010. The forecast 2 per cent decline in like-for-like sales in the three months to October 30 is a deterioration from the 0.9 per cent fall in the first half of Morrison's financial year. Jonathan Pritchard, analyst at Oriel Securities, said recently in a note: "Current trading remains poor and we continue to pick up reports of internal strife from Bradford." A search process is expected to be put in train to identify Mr Hodgson's successor. Some analysts suggested that Andrew Yaxley, the fresh and frozen food director at Tesco who is moving to a general management role, could be a candidate. Nick Collard, recently elevated to Morrison marketing director, is also thought to be highly regarded by Mr Philips. But Mr Hogdson's departure will mean a significant proportion of Morrison's top team has changed. Earlier this year Richard Lancaster, marketing director, left the group and joined Poundland. Norman Pickavance, human resources director, has also left. Richard Pennycook, its highly respected finance director, will retire next year to pursue a portfolio of roles. Mike Snell, another senior director, is also leaving to take up a role in private equity, according to two people familiar with the situation. Morrison is expected to say that its sales decline reflects the fact that it has not opened as many new stores as rivals. Until about a year ago, it was the best performing of the UK's big four supermarket chains.