Waterstones has appointed Michael Roney, the current chairman of fashion retailer Next, as its new chairman.
The move marks a significant step in the bookseller's preparations for an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange, bringing a high-profile corporate governance figure to lead the board during a critical transition period.
Roney, a veteran of the City, joins Waterstones as it seeks to establish itself as a publicly traded entity.
The appointment is widely viewed as a signal of the company's intent to meet the rigorous expectations of institutional investors and regulators.
By securing a chairman with a proven track record at a major FTSE-listed company, Waterstones aims to bolster confidence in its corporate structure and strategic direction ahead of the listing.
The bookseller, which operates a network of 320 stores across the UK including the Blackwell's and Foyles brands, has been working towards a public market debut for some time.