The Co-operative has brought in Chris Whitfield from Tesco to take on the new role of retail and logistics director, reporting directly to retail chief executive Steve Murrells.
The post was created following the departure earlier in the year of former food chief operating officer Sean Toal. Whitfield will oversee The Co-operative Food’s logistics function as well as its 2,800 stores.
Whitfield has worked in retail for 27 years, most of that time for Tesco. For the past two years he has been store operations director for Tesco Lotus in Thailand, one of the group’s largest businesses outside of the UK, with 60,000 employees and more than 1,800 stores.
Murrells said: “We are at an exciting point with the business, as our retail strategy to concentrate on the convenience sector takes hold. Sales in these stores are outperforming the market and Chris’ wealth of retail experience will be invaluable as we look to improve our operations and logistics functions further.
“I am delighted that an individual with such a strong track record in the industry has joined the business and he will play leading roles in the implementation of our retail strategy.”
