People Moves
People Moves tracks leadership changes, senior appointments, and executive reshuffles across the UK retail industry. This section reports on new hires, promotions, and departures within major retail groups, suppliers, and service providers. Retail Sector’s People Moves coverage offers insight into how talent strategy and leadership dynamics influence company direction, governance, and performance — providing retail professionals with an up-to-date view of the industry’s key decision-makers.
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Jul- 2022 -21 July
Primark owner appoints new finance director
Associated British Foods plc has announced the appointment of Eoin Tonge as the company’s next finance director. Tonge will succeed John Bason who will be retiring as finance director and will be stepping down from the ABF Board. It is reported that Tonge will join the business no later than…
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20 July
Waitrose customer director steps down
Waitrose customer director Martin George has stepped down after more than five years in the role. George joined Waitrose in 2017 while holding non-executive roles at private GP network London Doctors Clinic, Grays of Cambridge, PrivateFly, and Hornby Hobbies. During this time it revealed George oversaw the ‘You can taste…
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20 July
Ocado Retail CEO Melanie Smith to step down
Ocado Retail has announced that its chief executive, Melanie Smith CBE, will leave the business after three years in the role, effective 31 August 2022. As part of the transition process, Smith will be handing over to Lawrence Hene on an interim basis, who previously was deputy CEO at Ocado…
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20 July
Matchesfashion appoints chief operating officer
Online luxury retailer, Matchesfashion, has announced the appointment of Stuart Hill as the group’s new chief operating officer. Hill joins the brand from Farfetch, another online luxury retailer, where he served as senior vice president of logistics for four years. Hill is expected to start his new role in September…
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18 July
Mattress Online appoints chief innovation officer
Tech-driven retailer, Mattress Online, has announced the appointment of Martin Adams as the company’s new chief innovation officer. It is reported that Adams has been unofficially involved in a consultancy capacity with the company since it was founded 19 years ago, but now took up a position on the leadership…
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15 July
iCandy appoints new head of sales
iCandy has announced the appointment of Cath Needham as the company’s new head of sales this week. Needham is said to be an experienced national account manager with 30 years of experience within the nursery industry. She joined the company from Emmaljunga Limited. As head of sales, Needham will be…
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12 July
Gap CEO steps down amid struggling sales
Gap Inc. has revealed that president and chief executive officer Sonia Syngal will step down from her position and from the company’s board, departing the company following a brief transition. Effective immediately, Gap confirmed Bob Martin, the company’s current executive chairman of the board, will serve as Gap Inc. president…
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8 July
The Federation of Independent Retailer appoints new COO
The Federation of Independent Retailers (The Fed) has announced the appointment of Graham Stafford as the new chief operating officer (COO). Stafford joined the Fed on 4 July and will be based at Bede House in Durham. Prior to his appointment, he worked as COO for Amazing Instore and in…
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8 July
JD Sports appoints former Morrisons boss as chair
JD Sports has announced the appointment of Andy Higginson as the brand’s new chair, effective on 11 July 2022. This appointment is said to follow an extensive search process undertaken by the board with the support of an external executive search firm. Higginson is reportedly a highly experienced and proven…
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6 July
Sainsbury’s appoints new CFO
Sainsbury’s has announced its chief financial officer (CFO) Kevin O’Byrne is to step down from his role next year with Bláthnaid Bergin appointed as his succesor from March 2023. O’Byrne has confirmed his intention to retire from Sainsbury’s at the end of this financial year, in March 2023, after six…
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