Retail veterans exit Asda amid senior shake-up
Asda veteran Mark Simpson has departed the grocer, amid a mass exodus of long-standing senior management as co-owner Mohsin Issa attempts an overhaul at the top of the business.
Chief transformation officer Mark Simpson is understood to have left the retailer by “mutual consent”, the Grocer reported, drawing a close to Simpson’s 27-year stint at the retailer, after joining in 1997.
A spokesman for Asda said: “We can confirm that Mark Simpson has left the business today by mutual agreement. We would like to thank Mark for his years of service with Asda and wish him well for the future.”
It is understood the role of chief transformation officer has now been scrapped, with the responsibilities of the position instead distributed to Asda’s latest senior appointment, ex-Morrisons chief information officer Matt Kelleher.
Due to join the supermarket giant later this month, Kelleher will be responsible for the Future programme, which oversees Asda’s attempt to separate its IT system from its former owner Walmart.
Meanwhile, another retail veteran is understood to have backed out of a decision to join Asda, mere days after being appointed to the role.
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Former Tesco and Morrisons executive Gary Mills had been internally revealed to be Asda’s new interim retail director last month, however it is believed Mills has since changed his mind, reported the Telegraph.
Mills’ decision comes amid a slew of other senior departures, as fellow Asda veteran Paul Gillow also said he is departing his role as commercial director, to be replaced by Iceland’s group buying director Andrew Staniland, who will head up the supermarket’s fresh and frozen food division.
Asda said Gillow’s move comes from wanting to spend time with his family, before seeking his next challenge, after 21 years at the supermarket giant.
Alongside Simpson and Gillow, vice president for retail north Kevin McBride is also exiting the business after 27 years, set to leave at the end of August.
The flurry of departing senior management come amid an radical senior shake-up conducted by Mohsin Issa in a bid to stop the slump in sales the supermarket has experienced in recent months.
Last month, the gap between Asda and its rivals widened as data revealed it was the only supermarket to suffer falling sales – dropping 4% 12 weeks to 9 June.
It follows a challenging year for the grocer, which has been seeking to cut costs after a £6.8bn acquisition by Issa brothers and private equity firm TDR in 2021 left it with significant debt, leading to a parliamentary inquiry.
Asda is on the hunt for a new chief executive to rescue the supermarket, and replace Mohsin Issa, offering the prospective successful candidate a £10m pay check.
4 Comments. Leave new
Slowly but surely running asda into the ground.
Mark Simpson is a massive loss for the business, he understands Asda inside out and also Walmart. This situation months before exiting Walmart systems is worrying. Kelleher has left lots of baggage at Morrisons and his appointment will preoccupy many.
I consider myself a veteran of retail as I worked in retail for 39 (1976-2015) years. 35 (1980-2015) of those for Tesco. In various roles, positions, jobs and branches. The real veterans are those who were in the military. In my opinion.
I, among others , forecast this downward spiral at the time of the purchase. Running garages does not qualify someone to run enormous superstores. The size of the management exodus and the inability to recruit a C.E.O. tells a story which needs little interpretation.