Asda has been hit by another senior management departure, with vice president for ambient Adrian McLeod set to exit the business less than six months after rejoining.

McLeod, a former boss at Accolade Wines, returned to Asda in January as part of executive chairman Allan Leighton’s management overhaul.

At the time, Leighton described McLeod as someone who “understands the language of Asda”.

McLeod’s appointment follows the retail veteran first joining the supermarket chain in 2010, where he was then promoted to Asda brand director.

He then left the company in 2014, and has subsequently held roles including Accolade Wines regional managing director for Europe and interim commercial director and integrations director for Pilgrim’s Europe.

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McLeod’s departure marks a further blow for the grocer, which has seen a string of senior exits and ongoing challenges as it works to steady the ship under new ownership.

An Asda spokesperson Grocery Gazette: “Ade re-joined Asda to support a significant period of change and has played a key role in helping to deliver this during the last six months. Ade has signalled his desire to be nearer to home (he lives in West London) and get some balance back into his life

“Given the amount of work we have to do, it was felt that the time was right to make a change now and to implement the right succession plan which we will communicate in due course.”

It is understood that the supermarket chain is still searching for a new CEO, following its recent slew of senior management appointments.

Earlier in May, Asda announced it has poached Morrisons’ marketing director Rachel Eyre to become its new chief customer officer, replacing David Hills.