The Co-op has announced that the Chief Executives of its food retail division and wholesale business Nisa are standing down.
Commercial Director Matt Hood will replace Jo Whitfield as the head of Co-op Food, whilst Nisa CEO Michael Fletcher will be replaced by the Managing Director of the society’s regional stores in the south, Peter Batt.
After five years as CEO, Whitfield took a career break earlier this year to support her two sons during their GCSE and A-level exams. She is said to have decided to move on to “pursue her next challenge”.
Hood will become Managing Director of Co-op Food, responsible for both the commercial and operational areas of the business.
Meanwhile, Fletcher is stepping down as CEO of Nisa in October to “pursue a new career path, supporting multiple businesses”. He only took up the role at the beginning of the year to replace Ken Towle who moved to Asda as Retail Director. Batt has been appointed Managing Director of Nisa.
Commenting on Whitfield’s departure, Co-op chair Allan Leighton said: “During her time with us, Jo has led a re-invention of our Food business. She always put colleagues first and championed colleague safety. She leaves the Co-op with our warmest wishes and deepest thanks for everything she has delivered for our colleagues, members and customers.”
Co-op Chief Executive Shirine Khoury-Haq commented: “I am delighted to announce that Matt is our new managing director of Co-op Food with both the commercial and operational areas reporting into him and he will ensure we remain leaders in convenience. We have an incredibly strong team, an established position to build from and the hunger and opportunity to achieve so much more in the years ahead.”
She added: “Peter Batt will take over from Michael with immediate effect to allow a managed handover with Michael. Peter has extensive experience in retail and trading, having been our divisional managing director in the South, and brings with him both commercial and operational experience from his roles outside of Co-op.”
The move comes just weeks after the Co-op announced that it was axing 400 jobs at its head office in Manchester and consulting on about 50 more job losses at its Nisa business, blaming soaring inflation and the difficult trading conditions that are impacting its finances.
