ZURICH (Reuters) - The chief executive of Swiss clothing retail Charles Voegele (VCH.S: Quote, Profile, Research) will leave the group after the firm returned to profit in 2007, the company said on Tuesday.

The clothing retailer said a group holding one fifth of the Voegele shares has requested the election of new board members at the annual general meeting on April 16.

Voegele has become target of takeover speculation after Switzerland's largest retailer Migros bought a 3 percent stake and a group around hedge fund Laxey increased its holdings to some 20 percent.

"CEO Daniel Reinhard has decided, after the successful conclusion of Voegele's repositioning and the expansion which has been initiated in Eastern Europe, to reorientate himself professionally," the group said.

Voegele posted a net profit of 61 million Swiss francs ($58.65 million) for 2007 on sales of 1.39 billion francs, after making a loss of 20 million francs in 2006 due to goodwill impairments.

In a Reuters survey, analysts had on average forecast a net profit of 68 million francs.

For a company statement, click on [VCH.S-CNR]

(Reporting by Sven Egenter)