Waitrose appoints new trading director

Waitrose has announced the appointment of Charlotte di Cello as the supermarket chain’s new trading director, after a competitive internal and external recruitment process.

Cello will join Waitrose on 18 January 2021 from Leon, where she is currently chief commercial officer, and succeed the current trading director, Rupert Thomas, who is leaving the partnership after 17 years of service.

She gained “significant experience” in the retail and grocery sector in former roles across Trading, Finance and Strategy teams at Sainsbury’s.

Furthermore, Laura Burbedge has been promoted to the role of Waitrose’s online director, after playing an “integral role” in the successful growth of the supermarket chain’s online business in 2020 as the business parted ways with delivery service, Ocado.

Currently one of the chain’s partners, Burberge will adopt the position on 4 January 2021, having performed the role on an interim basis since October 2020.

James Bailey, Waitrose’s executive director, said: “Both roles are pivotal to the delivery of the Waitrose strategy to ensure we maintain our leading market position on quality, ethics, availability and value for customers.”