Prerana Issar has left her role as chief people officer (CPO) at Sainsbury’s, with immediate effect.

It is understood, Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts informed staff on Friday (12 September) afternoon that she has departed the role.

The page on the retailer’s website that detail’s Issar’s role has been removed.

Issar was appointed to the post and joined the retailer’s operating board in May 2023.

Speaking at the time of her appointment, Roberts said Issar brought “multi-sector background and a strong and broad HR experience” to the role, “especially with her focus on purpose as both a unifying force and a driver of business results.”

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Before joining Sainsbury’s, Prerana was the NHS’s first CPO, a role she held for three years until March 2022.

Prior to that, she was chief HR officer at the World Food Programme and spent seven years at Unilever, where she took on positions including global HR director for food and HR vice president across its global foods category.

Sainsbury’s has been approached for comment.