Tesco Reunites with Suspended Group Food Sourcing Director Matt Simister and Announces Changes to Executive Committee
CHESHUNT, ENGLAND - Tesco CEO Dave Lewis announced major changes to Tesco's executive team this week, putting himself in charge of Tesco's day-to-day operations as he guides the retailer out of the aftermath of its recent profit overstatement scandal. Notably, he will be bringing back the formerly suspended Group Food Sourcing Director Matt Simister and making some major changes to Tesco's Executive Committee, including:
- Jill Easterbrook: Appointed to lead Business Transformation Programme.
- Benny Higgins: In addition to his previous role of leading Tesco's Bank and International Financial Services Business operations, he will now be responsible for Group Strategy.
- Rebecca Shelley: Appointed to lead Corporate Communications (the Investor Relations team will work with the Group CFO, Alan Stewart).
- Jason Tarry: Appointed to Head of Commercial for the UK and the Group
- Robin Terrell: Appointed to Head of Customer
According to a press release, these changes, effective January 1st 2015, will eliminate the need for the positions of Chief Creative Officer and Group Business Planning and Strategy Director. Matt Atkinson and David Hobbs, the heads of these respective positions, will continue to work with Tesco over the coming months in order to ensure a smooth transition period.
“I have changed some responsibilities and reduced the number of roles,” Lewis explained in a statement published on The Telegraph. “My sole intention is to build a tight team of experts who pull together to drive the turnaround in performance that we are all looking for.”
“In our new roles we will work the remainder of the transformation plan for our business,” he continued. “We will begin to engage the senior leaders into that process and we will share it with you as the details emerge. I do not intend this to take a long time, but I do understand that the operational focus right now needs to be on delivery of Christmas for our customers, so please be patient until the new year to hear more from me on the evolution of our organisation and our fuller change agenda.”
Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we bring you the latest on Tesco's plans and the British retail community.
