Sainsbury’s has made new appointments and reshuffled its existing leadership team to support the delivery of the group’s ‘Next Level’ strategy.
Tracey Clements will join the retailer at the beginning of September in the role of Chief Retail, Logistics and Supply Officer. The newly created position unifies Sainsbury’s Retail, Digital, Customer Experience, Supply Chain and Logistics activities under a single leadership.
Clements’ past experience includes 17 years with Tesco, where she held a number of leadership roles, including Store Director, Managing Director of Tesco Express, and CEO of One Stop. She then became Chief Operating Officer for Boots UK & Ireland, and most recently, was Senior VP of Mobility and Convenience Europe at petrol forecourt operator BP.
Meanwhile, accountability for Technology at Sainsbury’s is moving to Mark Given following the recent departure of its Chief Retail and Technology Officer, Clodagh Moriarty, to homewares chain Dunelm.
Given will become Chief Technology, Marketing and Data Officer from 1st September, supporting Sainsbury’s drive to utilise technology and AI in delivering “outstanding customer experience, leveraging the power of data and insight and unlocking future opportunities at scale.”
Rob Barnes will join Sainsbury’s in early October as Chief Technology Officer, reporting to Given. Barnes left Asda in April, having supported the group’s ‘Project Future’ IT separation from its previous owner, Walmart.
Sainsbury’s also confirmed that Rhian Bartlett will become its Chief Commercial and Sustainability Officer in an expanded role, bringing together the group’s commercial and sustainability agendas under a single leadership. The retailer stated that by aligning commercial and sustainability leadership, it was “embedding sustainability at the heart of commercial decision making – ensuring both areas come together to support long-term value creation and environmental leadership.”
Meanwhile, Graham Biggart has been appointed Managing Director for Argos and Chief Strategy Officer. The move will see the chain’s retail and transformation teams report directly into Biggart, enabling an “even sharper focus on delivering the More Argos, more often transformation plan and accelerating Argos’ growth”.
Biggart will continue to hold accountability for shaping the group’s future strategy, whilst his prior responsibilities for Sainsbury’s supply chain and logistics will transition to Clements to align more closely with its retail operations and customer experience.
“I’m delighted to welcome Tracey to our Operating Board. Her breadth of experience, energy and customer-first mindset make her an outstanding addition to our leadership team, and I’m confident she will play a pivotal role in accelerating our plan and shaping the next chapter of our Sainsbury’s business,” commented Chief Executive Simon Roberts.
“Alongside Tracey, we’re strengthening our leadership across Technology, Commercial and Sustainability, all areas that are critical to delivering our Next Level strategy. With Rhian taking forward our combined commercial and sustainability ambition, Mark uniting technology, marketing and data, Graham leading our group strategy and the transformation of Argos, and Rob joining us as CTO, we’re building the momentum and the capabilities to move faster, serve customers better and unlock long-term growth across the group.”
Last month, Sainsbury’s reported better-than-expected first quarter sales, benefiting from warm weather and a disruption at rival Marks & Spencer. Its shares are up 8% so far this year.
NAM Implications:
- Anyone close to Sainsbury’s knows that these are fundamental changes and enhancements to Sainsbury’s ability to accelerate future growth in an unprecedented retail environment…
- …with potential rewards for suppliers that align with the retailer’s enhanced team.
- i.e. time to reconfigure supplier-retailer networks.
- Starting from where new and current team members have been…
- …and anticipating their thinking going forward.
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