Morrisons appoints new chief executive

Morrisons has announced the appointment of Rami Baitiéh as its new chief executive from November. He will succeed David Potts, who has been Morrisons CEO for nine years, and will work closely with him to ensure a smooth handover period. Potts and Sir Terry Leahy, senior advisor at CD&R, had been discussing his successor since the buyout in 2021. Prior to Morrisons, Baitiéh held the position of a chief executive at Carrefour France. Baitiéh said: “Morrisons holds a special place for shoppers across the UK, and I am honoured to be joining the business to help build on the strong links the company has with its loyal customers and the communities where it operates. As a manufacturer, wholesaler and seller of food, Morrisons is uniquely positioned to grow in the coming years while remaining deeply focused on customer satisfaction. “I also want to acknowledge the talented and hard-working members of the Morrisons team that continue to make Morrisons an employer of choice in Britain. Our people are our great strength and I see tremendous opportunity for team development in the coming months and years. I look forward to building on David’s strong legacy of always putting shoppers first and thank him for his help in the transition.” Potts added: “Serving as Morrisons chief executive for the last nine years has been the privilege of my working life. There have been so many highlights but the way all our colleagues rose to the immense challenge of the Covid pandemic, fed the nation and made sure no-one was left behind will stay with me forever. “Rami is joining a very special company with talented and dedicated colleagues and a unique position in British grocery, food making and farming. The Q3 results today show that the business is once again on a steady growth path with plenty of opportunities ahead and I’m full of confidence about its future. In my remaining time as CEO, I will be working hard to prepare for the handover, and I look forward to giving Rami all the assistance and advice that he needs during the transition.” He concluded: “After a reasonable shift on the frontline of British grocery retailing, I’m looking forward to a short break with my family and will then look for further ways to contribute to business and to the UK's economic recovery from the pandemic. I will continue to be an investor, supporter, and advocate for Morrisons and look forward to watching its continued progress and development for many years to come.”