Sainsbury's commercial director Mike Coupe is being tipped as the most likely successor to CEO Justin King following the shock departure this week of group development director Darren Shapland. Shapland revealed he was leaving the retailer after its agm on 13 July to "pursue a number of personal interests". He will, however, remain non-executive chairman of Sainsbury's Bank. His unexpected departure caused a 5.3p dip in Sainsbury's share price in early trading on Monday. Shapland had been viewed as a possible candidate to succeed King. He was promoted to group development director from chief financial officer last summer in a promotion widely seen as a move by Sainsbury's to stop him defecting to Marks & Spencer's, which was on the hunt for an FD.