Asda CIO and tech VP step down amid team shake-up

Two Asda tech executives responsible for handling its IT overhaul “Project Future” are stepping down from the supermarket.

Chief information officer (CIO) Carl Dawson and VP of digital and technology Rob Barnes are set to depart from the retailer, Asda has confirmed.

Dawson joined the retailer in 2021 from M&S, where he had previously served as CIO since 2014.

Barnes began working at Asda in January 2024, also joining from M&S where he served as chief technology officer of delivery and formerly CTO of food and retail.

The execs were in charge of handling Asda’s approximately £1bn IT systems separation from its former parent company Walmart.

Speaking to The Grocer, an Asda spokesman said: “As Project Future nears completion and becomes part of Asda’s everyday tech operating model, we are aligning our digital leadership team accordingly.”

Asda’s technology function will now be managed by its director of technology Marcus Shaw, as its chief information officer, and its chief technology officer Adrian Berry.

Iceland group chief marketing, customer and digital officer David Devany is set to join the supermarket in May as VP of ecommerce and digital business.

Additionally, interim VP online Barney Burgess will step into the role of VP food online and chief analytics officer after Devany’s arrival.

After a report on the departures by technology news website The Register, Barnes posted on LinkedIn that he had “taken the decision to leave Asda to pursue a great new opportunity later this year.”

He added: “It’s been an incredible 15 months, where we’ve landed so much technology change as a business across our stores; online; supply chain: and home office.”

The departures were unveiled during a call with the supermarket’s workers last week, which was followed with a note to the whole company.

Earlier this week, Asda poached Tesco veteran James Goodman as its new chief people officer, with the executive set to join the retailer later in the year.

Goodman spent twelve years at the UK’s biggest supermarket, most recently as its people director for the UK and ROI, responsible for all people related matters.

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