BP has shaken up its senior leadership team with two internal moves as it pushes ahead with plans to grow its UK retail business.
One of the changes will see the forecourt operators VP for convenience in Europe Jo Hayward promoted to VP of mobility and convenience retail UK, responsible for BP’s network of around 1,150 retail sites in the UK.
She will replace Sonya Adams, who has been appointed chief of staff to BP’s CEO Murray Auchincloss.
Speaking of her new role, Hayward said: “I am looking forward to leading the retail business in one of BP’s key markets and getting to know our team of 6,700 colleagues.
“Safety is my top priority as I come into the role, that means keeping our colleagues safe and ensuring our customers have a great experience every time they visit us. I’m also excited about testing some of the new convenience propositions we have been developing to meet customers’ needs across our UK network through the energy transition.”
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Former UK senior marketing manager Natalie Cattermole is also taking on a new role, as senior dealer manager, reporting to Hayward and leading the dealer teams.
Cattermole, who joined BP in 2013 from Sainsbury’s, will now be responsible for continuing to build the businesses relationships with dealer partners, which make up around 850 sites in the UK network.
Cattermole said: I’m excited to bring my marketing insights to support our valued dealers to grow their businesses.
“We believe we have a compelling offer with our strong brand, high-quality fuels, EV charging and BPme Rewards loyalty programme, which we are now enhancing further with our Wild Bean Cafe dealer franchises. All of which I am sure will help bring new dealers to our network.”
BP SVP mobility and convenience Europe Tracey Clements added: “I am delighted to have Jo and Natalie on our UK leadership team. They are both fantastic leaders who bring deep customer insight and retail experience to their new roles.
“With this expertise I am sure they will build on the great progress made in recent years to grow and transform our retail business in the UK, helping us to become first choice for customers on the move.”
It comes as BP has an ambitious target to double its convenience gross margin globally by 2030 and has been investing in its retail capability in recent months with new hires across the grocery retail sector, including Claire Farrant as VP of marketing from Lidl, Joanne Hall as UK retail operations director from Sainsbury’s and most recently, David Phillpot as European convenience trading director from M&S.
