Asda continues to overhaul its management team as it strives to improve performance and halt the decline in its market share.
Lauren Lepley will join the retailer in early December as Vice President of Central Operations. She has more than 14 years of experience in the grocery sector with Tesco and, most recently, Morrisons, where she was Group Supply Chain Director.
Meanwhile, Mark Henry will join Asda in January as Vice President of Retail South. He has over 25 years of operational experience, including as Chief Operating Officer at Lidl Finland and most recently as Group Asset Protection lead for M&S.
Both Lepley and Henry will report to Asda’s new Chief Operations Officer, Matt Heslop, who will be joining the business in January.
“We are very pleased to welcome Lauren and Mark to Asda. They both bring a wealth of retail experience and proven track records in delivering operational excellence,” said Asda’s Chairman, Lord Rose.
“This will be invaluable as we strengthen our business and deliver our long-term growth ambitions.”
The latest appointments follow several recent senior hires at the struggling supermarket. These include Andrew Staniland, former Group Buying Director at Iceland Foods and David Devaney, their former VP of eCommerce, both of whom join as VPs next year.
Asda also confirmed that Chris McKellar, VP Retail South East, will leave the business in the new year to take up a new opportunity overseas, and Simon Jury, VP Data & Analytics, is leaving at the end of the year to take up a new role closer to home.
NAM Implications:
- Undoubted retail talent joining in December/January…
- …and assuming all will hit the ground running at pace…
- …a formidable turnaround and catchup job to be done.
- Fingers crossed…
