Morrisons bolsters senior leadership team for growth and expansion

Morrisons has made a series of senior leadership appointments as it continues to drive its growth strategy.

The supermarket giant has poached Lidl’s chief operating officer Matt Heslop as its new director of convenience and wholesale.

Heslop, who joins Morrisons next month, has spent over 20 years in a variety of roles at the German discounter, most recently as chief operating officer of Lidl UK and of its Irish business before that.

In his new role, he will bring extensive experience in food retail, “delivering growth, innovation, and excellence for the customer”.

Morrisons has also named Matt McLellan as group data and media director, a newly created position within the business.

McLellan, who will join later this year, is currently the vice president of customer planning and proposition at Asda, where he is responsible for “the design and launch of their loyalty proposition and for developing a wide range of high-profile customer programmes and initiatives”.

Meanwhile, former Carrefour director Bruno Lebon joined the supermarket in December as its non-food merchandise director, working closely with Andrew Staniland, who started as Morrisons group trading director earlier in February.

Lebon brings over 39 years of experience in supermarket retailing, having most recently served as executive director of supermarkets and hypermarkets at Carrefour.

In addition to the new hires, Morrisons has confirmed the formal appointment of Martin Dawson as group retail director after serving as interim operations director for retail since February 2024.

Charlotte Exell has also been promoted to the newly created role of online director after her successful tenure as online operations director, where she played a key role in the growth of the grocer’s online business.

Chief customer and marketing officer Rachel Eyre will return to Morrisons on 3 March following her maternity leave.

The supermarket’s chief executive Rami Baitiéh said: “I’m very pleased to welcome three outstanding retailers to the Morrisons leadership team and to warmly welcome Rachel back from her maternity leave.

“All the new joiners have exceptional records in their fields and bring deep experience, a history of delivering growth and a clear customer focus. As Morrisons continues its re-invigoration and growth, their skills and their passion for the customer will make them a powerful addition to our team.

“Martin Dawson has made a significant impact in his new role over the last year and I am delighted to confirm him in the key role of group retail director. And Charlotte Exell has played a vital part in the recent growth of our online business and I’m confident that under her leadership Morrisons.com will go from strength to strength.”

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