David Potts takes the helm at Asda with an immediate operational plan focused on grocery value and enhancing customer experiences ahead of Christmas. The appointment surprised observers after company leadership previously suggested an internal candidate would be promoted. Allan Leighton will transition from executive chair into a non-executive position guiding broader strategic initiatives. This restructuring occurs as recent market data shows Asda's sales fell by 0.5% in the three months leading up to 4 October.
Key points
The grocer brought in external veteran leadership to tackle heavy corporate debt and ongo…: The grocer brought in external veteran leadership to tackle heavy corporate debt and ongoing sales declines.
Discounters like Aldi sit just one percentage point behind Asda and threaten its position…: Discounters like Aldi sit just one percentage point behind Asda and threaten its position as the third-largest UK grocer.
The new chief executive plans an immediate operational push to keep prices locked low ahe…: The new chief executive plans an immediate operational push to keep prices locked low ahead of the critical Christmas period.
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Asda has appointed the 69-year-old former boss of Morrisons, David Potts, as chief executive with immediate effect as it continues to struggle to lift sales.
The UK’s third largest supermarket said that 73-year-old executive chair Allan Leighton, who has been running the business since 2024, would now step back to a non-executive role focusing on “the long-term strategic agenda for the business”.
Potts, who began his career on the shop floor at Tesco aged 16 and worked at the UK’s biggest supermarket for decades eventually heading its UK business, went on to become chief executive of Morrisons between 2015 and 2023. He left after the supermarket group was taken private by US investment house Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in 2021.
Asda and Morrisons are struggling as they face heavy competition and high levels of debt. Aldi is poised to overtake Asda to become the UK’s third-largest supermarket, with about one percentage point separating them. Asda’s sales fell by 0.5% in the three months to 4 October according to the latest figures from market research group Worldpanel by Numerator despite its…
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