(Adds detail, spokesman, analyst comment, shares)
LONDON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - SuperGroup, the Britishfirm behind the Superdry fashion brand, is parting company withits chief operating officer four months after it recruited theformer boss of the Co-op to be its new chief executive.
The firm said in a statement on Thursday that Susanne Given,who joined SuperGroup in 2012, had stepped down from the boardas a director with immediate effect and would leave the business"in order to explore other opportunities."
Shares in SuperGroup, whose trademark jackets, hooded tops,check shirts and jogging bottoms are popular withtwentysomethings, fell up to 2.8 percent in early trading.
SuperGroup said the responsibilities of Given, who was wellregarded by analysts, would be absorbed by the executive teamwith the heads of UK retail, IT and logistics reporting directlyto CEO Euan Sutherland.
Sutherland joined as CEO in October, replacing JulianDunkerton who founded the company on a market stall 30 yearsago.
Sutherland had quit as boss of the embattled Co-op group inMarch after just 10 months in the role, describing the businessas an "ungovernable" organisation.
"It looks as if she (Given) has fallen victim to internalpolitics, in the wake of Euan Sutherland's recent arrival asCEO," said independent retail analyst Nick Bubb.
A spokesman for SuperGroup said Given's departure was amutual decision and denied there had been any row. He said Givenwould leave the company's employ in the summer and would not geta payoff.
Analysts, however, noted the absence of a line from Given inSuperGroup's statement.
SuperGroup shares reversed the early losses to be up 0.7percent at 1,065 pence at 0919 GMT, valuing the business at 852million pounds ($1.30 billion). The stock is down a third overthe last year.
($1 = 0.6556 pounds) (Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Kate Holton and MarkPotter)