Asda is looking to strengthen its leadership team with a raft of new senior appointments as part of its mission to “satisfy the daily and weekly shopping needs of ordinary working people who demand value”.

The supermarket has confirmed that Liz Evans, who currently leads the George clothing brand, will take up the position of chief commercial officer for non-food and retail, leading its large store operations on a permanent basis, alongside her current responsibilities.

Asda has also created a new position on its executive team of chief supply chain officer to oversee all its food and general merchandise operations.

To bolster its food team, Ade McKeon will re-join the grocer as vice president for ambient, with beer, wines and spirits, core grocery, impulse grocery, non-edible and healthcare teams reporting to him.

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M&S head of trade Gemma Lightbody will also be re-joining Asda as business unit director for impulse grocery, reporting to Mckeon, while Aldi buying director for pantry Matt Shields will join as business unit director for core grocery.

Current Asda colleague Matt Wood will take on the role of SD commercial operations, reporting directly to chief commercial officer for food Kris Comerford with immediate effect.

Asda executive chairman Allan Leighton said: “Asda’s mission is to deliver the value ordinary working people, and their families demand from us. To do this, we need to be and are rediscovering our ‘Asda-ness’. I’m delighted to be announcing these leadership changes as we start this journey.”​

It comes despite Leighton having introduced a series of cost-cutting measures, including redundancies, as he warned of a long road ahead for the struggling supermarket.

The grocery giant has revealed the axing of 13 regional managers as part of a senior shake-up, designed to increase performance and cut costs.