Sainsbury’s announces leadership changes to drive Next Level strategy

Sainsbury’s has announced significant changes to its operating board in a bid to further strengthen leadership across customer experience, technology, commercial and sustainability, and support delivery and acceleration of its ‘Next Level’ strategy.

The move sees Tracey Clements appointed to the operating board as chief retail, logistics and supply chain officer, Sainsbury’s. Effective from 3 September, the newly-created role unifies Sainsbury’s retail, digital, customer experience, supply chain and logistics under a single leadership.

Sainsbury’s said Clements is a “highly experienced” leader with a proven track record in grocery bringing broad and deep experience across retail operations, convenience retail, strategy, loyalty and marketing and customer service.

Previously, she spent 17 years with Tesco where she held a significant number of leadership roles, including store manager and store director, managing director of Tesco Express and CEO of One Stop.

Following this, Clements was chief operating officer for Boots UK and Ireland, where she led the operation of the business through the Covid-19 pandemic. Most recently, she was senior VP of mobility and convenience Europe at BP.

In addition, operating board accountability for Technology will move to Mark Given, who becomes chief technology, marketing and data officer from 1 September 2025.

The company said this leadership change reflects the “strategic importance” of technology and AI in delivering outstanding customer experience, leveraging the power of data and insight and unlocking future opportunities at scale.

Given will oversee technology, data and insights alongside marketing and Nectar 360, enabling the group to accelerate investment and better integrate capabilities. Under his leadership, Sainsbury’s will drive maximum value by bringing together critical expertise in engineering, AI, loyalty and customer engagement.

Sainsbury’s also confirmed that Rob Barnes will join the company in early October as chief technology officer, reporting to Given. Barnes brings deep expertise from previous roles at Asda and M&S.

Meanwhile, Rhian Bartlett has been named chief commercial and sustainability officer in an expanded role that brings together the group’s commercial and sustainability agendas under a single leadership.

Sainsbury’s said “significant strides” have been made to develop a distinctive and high-impact sustainability agenda as part of Sainsbury’s Plan for Better. This has delivered “meaningful outcomes” across carbon reduction, responsible sourcing and health and nutrition.

Finally, Argos retail structures and transformation teams will move to report directly into Graham Biggart, which it said enables an “even sharper focus” on delivering the More Argos, more often transformation plan and accelerating Argos’ growth.

Biggart will also continue to hold accountability for shaping the Sainsbury’s group future strategy. His prior leadership of Sainsbury’s supply chain and logistics has been “instrumental during a time of significant modernisation and change” and those functions will now transition under Tracey Clements to align more closely with Sainsbury’s Retail Operations and customer experience.

Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Tracey to our operating board. Her breadth of experience, energy and customer-first mindset make her an outstanding addition to our leadership team and I’m confident she will play a pivotal role in accelerating our plan and shaping the next chapter of our Sainsbury’s business.

“Alongside Tracey, we’re strengthening our leadership across Technology, Commercial and Sustainability, all areas that are critical to delivering our Next Level strategy. With Rhian taking forward our combined commercial and sustainability ambition, Mark uniting technology, marketing and data, Graham leading our group strategy and the transformation of Argos, and Rob joining us as CTO, we’re building the momentum and the capabilities to move faster, serve customers better and unlock long-term growth across the group.”

He added: “I’d also like to again express my heartfelt thanks to Clo for her very significant contribution to our business and our team. Clo has brought energy, commitment and impact, and we all wish her every success for the future when she leaves us in September.”