The founder of one of Kent’s fastest-growing online companies is no longer in charge of the firm he grew from a lifestyle business into a £100 million turnover retailer.

Lloyd Amsdon was quietly removed as a director at Watchfinder on Companies House in November, the second-hand watch retailer based in Maidstone.

He and fellow directors Stuart Hennell and Matt Bowling met as pupils at Borden Grammar School in Sittingbourne and launched the company in 2002 shortly after the dot-com bubble burst. A fourth director, Jonathan Gill, joined in 2004.

Today, the company sells second hand luxury timepieces made by the likes of Omega, Swatch Group, Cartier and Audemars Piguet for an average of more than £4,000 each.

However, Mr Amsdon will no longer play a role in the running of the business, although he has kept his shares in the firm.

He said: “I wanted to do a bit less and there are some other projects I am actively involved in.

"It was a five to six day a week job for 20 years and we have all known each other since we were kids.

“It is going great guns and doesn’t need me to be full-time employed.”

Watchfinder director Matt Bowling said it is company policy not to comment on personnel matters relating to staff, past or present.

The company has established six stores across the country, including one at Bluewater and its Invicta House showroom in Maidstone, which are serviced from its warehouse in Puddling Lane and service centre in Albion Place in the County Town.

Its most recent accounts for the year to the end of March 2016 show it increased revenues by 57% to £60.8m.

Its directors have said turnover is expected to reach £100m this year.

It increased pre-tax profits by 72% to £3m. The company employs about 120 people and claims to have sold more than £290m worth of watches since it was incorporated in 2002.