UK convenience retailer Nisa's CEO leaves during takeover talks

LONDON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Britain's Nisa Retail said on Saturday (Shenzhen: 002291.SZ - news) its chief executive had left the convenience retailer, which is in talks with the Co-operative Group to be taken over.

Nisa, which is owned by its independent retail members, said Nick Read had left with immediate effect but did not give a reason. Read had held the role since December 2014.

A source close to the negotiations with the Co-op said Read's sudden departure "was not expected to impact the deal and exclusive talks are ongoing."

Last month Britain's second largest supermarket group Sainsbury (Amsterdam: SJ6.AS - news) 's suspended bid talks with Nisa, saying it needed a clearer idea of whether the competition regulator will approve takeovers in the fast-growing convenience sector. That opened the door for the Co-op.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is probing Tesco (Frankfurt: 852647 - news) 's proposed 3.7 billion pound ($4.96 billion) takeover of Booker, a wholesaler which supplies the convenience sector. ($1 = 0.7465 pounds) (Reporting by James Davey; editing by Alexander Smith)