The founder and majority owner of Sports Direct, Mike Ashley, has stepped in as chief executive after the surprise resignation of Dave Forsey.
The retailer has been under fire over zero hours contracts and disclosure that staff at a warehouse were paid less than the minimum wage.
Independent shareholders had called for changes to the way the company was run.
Sources told the BBC that Mr Forsey was “not coerced”, and that Mr Ashley is a permanent replacement, not temporary.
The billionaire businessman has given up his role as executive deputy chairman.
BBC business correspondent Joe Lynam said sources told him that the shake-up was not part of a plan to take Sports Direct private.
There has been speculation that, following months of criticism of the company, Mr Ashley wanted to remove Sports Direct from the stock market.
