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The Retail Trust, the industry charity for retail workers, has appointed Tracey Clements, chief retail, logistics and supply chain officer at Sainsbury’s, and Matt Birch, director for EU Fresh at Amazon, to its board of trustees.
The appointments come as the charity’s latest Retail People Index warns that wellbeing across the sector fell by 6% in 2025, driven by intensified cost pressures and rising incidents of customer abuse.
Current data shows that 54% of the retail workforce are now considered a “flight risk,” with manager happiness levels dropping by 11% year-on-year.
Clements joined the Sainsbury’s operating board in September 2025, having previously served as COO at Boots UK and Ireland and senior VP at BP.
Meanwhile, Birch, who leads Amazon’s grocery business across the EU, brings extensive experience from senior roles at Central Co-op and Sainsbury’s. He also serves as a trustee for The Felix Project.
They join other retail leaders on the board, including Anthony Houghton (CEO, Holland and Barrett), Bruce Findlay (MD Retail, Landsec), and Ali Jones (former chief customer officer, Matalan).
In January 2026, the charity launched a major partnership with Poundland, providing mental health and financial support to 12,000 workers. This follows a 2025 deal with Mountain Warehouse covering 4,500 staff.
Key initiatives for the 2026 mandate include:
- “Let’s Respect Retail”: A renewed campaign to combat customer hostility, with 77% of shop workers reporting intimidating behavior in the last year.
- Digital Transformation: The rollout of an AI-powered “happiness dashboard” to help major retailers identify and respond to specific wellbeing trends in real-time.
- Estate Investment: Completion of a £1m renovation at the Hugh Fraser Retirement Estate and the 70th anniversary of the Leylands Estate for retired workers.
Clements said: “I’m delighted to be joining the board of the Retail Trust as a trustee. It’s a charity with a long and proud history but what really excites me is its clear focus on the future of the retail frontline workforce, supporting people not just through today’s challenges but in building resilience, wellbeing and opportunity for the years ahead.”
Birch added: “Supporting the people who power our industry is something I care deeply about. I’m honoured to be joining the Retail Trust’s board of trustees, helping contribute to their important work championing the wellbeing of retail colleagues across the UK.”
Chris Brook-Carter, CEO of the Retail Trust, concluded: “Tracey and Matt have fantastic track-records in developing and leading teams across the retail sector. They will play an important role in ensuring the Retail Trust continues to meet the needs of the entire workforce.”
