Ruby McGregor-Smith is to step down as a director and chief executive of Mitie weeks after the company issued a profit warning.

McGregor-Smith, who has been a director of Mitie since December 2002 and has served as chief executive since April 2007, will be succeeded in December by Phil Bentley, the former boss of Cable & Wireless.

McGregor-Smith said: “It has been a real honour to serve on the Board of Mitie and in particular to hold the role of chief executive.

“I am delighted that we are now in a position to appoint a new chief executive for Mitie and I wish Phil a successful future with the group.

“I would like to say a big thank you to everyone at Mitie who has helped make this such an extraordinary place to work, in particular my management team.

“Thank you also to all the people who have worked for us since I joined, and to all of our other stakeholders, especially our clients, for their support over the past decade.”

Bently, who previously ran British Gas for seven years and held a range of senior management and finance roles at Centrica and Diageo, will join as a director on November 1, and assume the position of chief executive on December 12.

He said: “Ruby has done a brilliant job building Mitie into the admired industry leader it is today. Although it is a challenging time for the sector, we have a strong platform from which I am certain we can now prosper.

“I am really looking forward to working with my new colleagues, delivering world-class services to our customers and creating sustainable shareholder value.”

Roger Matthews, chairman of Mitie, said: “Since becoming CEO, she has doubled revenue and profits, built a market–leading UK facilities management business, and been an inspiration to Mitie’s employees. I wish her every success for the future.

“I am delighted that Phil Bentley is joining Mitie. He has proven CEO experience with an excellent track record of significantly enhancing shareholder value in services businesses.”

Bentley said: “Ruby has done a brilliant job building Mitie into the admired industry leader it is today.

“Although it is a challenging time for the sector, we have a strong platform from which I am certain we can now prosper.”

In a trading update last month, the outsourcing specialist warned that profits will be “materially below” its expectations as a result of uncertainty over the UK’s decision to leave the EU and other “economic pressures”.