Aldi has promoted UK managing director of buying Julie Ashfield to chief commercial officer as part of a major restructuring of its leadership team.

Ashfield’s new role will see her responsible for both buying and sustainability, while her current position, according to The Grocer, is to be replaced by the discounter’s managing director for interaction Stephen Eivers.

Elsewhere, the senior team shake-up will see the creation of two other COO roles, to be assumed by Dan Ronald, who will move from his position of nine years as group managing director to lead Aldi’s regional stores and warehouses, and managing director of HR Ruth Doyle, who will become lead for both HR and supply chain.

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The new leadership overhaul comes as the discounter posted record sales over the festive period, up 3.4% to £1.6bn in the four weeks to Christmas Eve.

Aldi UK chief executive Giles Hurley said: “We dropped hundreds of prices last year as part of our ongoing mission to make outstanding quality, affordable food accessible to everyone.

“Our offering of outstanding quality British products at unbeatable prices was a winning combination yet again this Christmas as customers wanted to celebrate in style after an uncertain year, but with more challenges ahead, they wanted to do it without breaking the bank.”

The new restructuring follows in the wake of fellow supermarket Asda’s chairman unveiling cost cutting measures earlier this week, including the axing of regional manager roles.

However, Asda looked to strengthen its leadership team with the announcement of a slew of new senior appointments today (14 January).