Spar has hired Michael Fletcher as its new UK managing director. Fletcher was most recently CEO of Nisa Wholesale.

He was previously chief commercial officer at The Co-op and before that spent 22 years at Tesco, where he worked in numerous commercial roles in the UK, Ireland, and Asia.

Since leaving Nisa in 2022, Fletcher has taken on several non-executive director and board advisory roles, and was the founder and CEO of Sleet Brush, where he focused on designing and implementing solutions to retail and wholesale challenges.

Subscribe to Grocery Gazette for free

Sign up here to get the latest grocery and food news each morning

Spar Food Distributors Nick Bunker said: “Michael has outstanding credentials in commercial, retail and FMCG sectors, with experience across various trading environments. His professional capabilities and high standards consistently drive excellent business performance and operational resilience. We are delighted with his appointment and look forward his lasting and positive contribution to the Spar business.”

Fletcher added: “Spar is a globally recognised and respected brand, and I am thrilled to join the team. I look forward to supporting the ongoing strengthening and development of the Spar proposition in the UK.”

He will take up the role on 22 November.

It follows the symbol group appointing Dominic Hall, the joint managing director of James Hall & Co, as the president of Spar International over the summer. The appointment was the inaugural election of a UK representative to this role.