The leadership of Asda undergoes a significant change as Mohsin Issa steps down from his executive role.
- Stuart Rose takes over executive responsibilities alongside Rob Hattrell until a permanent CEO is appointed.
- Issa will remain as co-owner and board member, but daily operations transition to the new team.
- The leadership shift follows Rose’s candid remarks on Asda’s recent performance challenges.
- The new team faces the task of reversing Asda’s market share decline and operational hurdles.
Asda’s leadership is witnessing a substantial transformation with the decision of co-owner Mohsin Issa to step down from his executive duties. Sir Stuart Rose, alongside TDR Capital’s Rob Hattrell, will assume operational responsibilities during the ongoing search for a permanent CEO. This leadership change was anticipated after Rose expressed dissatisfaction with Asda’s performance and emphasised the need for experienced retail management.
Sir Stuart Rose brings extensive leadership experience, having held prominent roles across leading UK retailers such as M&S and Ocado. Industry experts view his interim appointment as beneficial. Clive Black from Shore Capital describes Rose as having ‘seen it all’, acknowledging his notable improvement over previous leadership. Rose’s strategic acumen and capability to drive transformation are considered assets as Asda navigates its current challenges.
Rob Hattrell, representing TDR Capital, complements Rose’s leadership. With a background in digital strategy and operations from his tenure at eBay and Tesco, Hattrell is acclaimed for his strategic vision and interpersonal skills. Tony Gregg, from the Anthony Gregg Partnership, considers Hattrell a ‘breath of fresh air’ who can stabilise Asda’s operations. His competence to manage intricacies and drive forward momentum is highly anticipated.
The broader leadership team at Asda consists of recent strategic appointments aimed at revitalising operations. Notable hires include Matt Kelleher as Chief Digital Officer and David Devany as Vice President for e-Commerce. These roles focus on enhancing Asda’s digital capabilities and customer engagement. Matt Heslop’s role overseeing store operations, backed by his experience from Lidl, is deemed critical in managing Asda’s retail footprint effectively.
As Asda grapples with declining market share, the new leadership is tasked with implementing a recovery plan. Recent Kantar data shows a sales decline of 5.6% over 12 weeks and a drop in market share to 12.6%. Navigating IT issues and labour strikes remains pivotal. Demonstrating a renewed focus on people-centric policies could rejuvenate internal and consumer relations. Despite ongoing CEO recruitment challenges, the current leadership aims to stabilise operations and implement strategic improvements.
The appointment of an experienced interim leadership team at Asda seeks to stabilise operations as the retailer continues its search for a permanent CEO.
