A.F. Blakemore appoints new chief people officer

A.F. Blakemore, one of the UK’s largest privately owned family businesses, has appointed Nicola McIntosh as its new chief people officer, effective 20 May.

McIntosh joins the company from Rotherham, Doncaster, and South Humber NHS Trust, where she served as executive board director of People and Organisational Development. In this role, she led a team of 120 and played a key role in navigating the trust’s workforce through the pandemic. 

Prior to that, McIntosh held leadership roles at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Jet2Holidays, and Wm Morrisons Supermarkets, where she delivered “innovative” L&D programs, organisational development strategies, and leadership development initiatives.

She said: “I’ve loved my time at the NHS but I’m delighted to move back into retail where my experience and knowledge of championing performance can be used across all functions and disciplines. I thrive in organisations where the culture prioritises their people and it was clear that A.F. Blakemore, whilst employing a workforce of over 7000 people, still retained the family values that are at the heart of its DNA.”

Carol Welch, A.F. Blakemore CEO, added: “In line with our unwavering commitment to being colleague and customer centric, we are thrilled to welcome Nicola McIntosh to A.F. Blakemore as our new chief people officer. Nicola brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in leading and developing high-performing teams, particularly during challenging times.

“Nicola’s deep understanding of the complexities of people and leadership, coupled with her passion for creating high performing teams in inclusive work environments, perfectly aligns with our values at A.F. Blakemore, her expertise will be invaluable as we continue to foster a culture that empowers our colleagues and drives long-term success for our organisation. We are excited to welcome her to A.F. Blakemore and wish her all the best in her new role.”