New Commercial Director for Tesco

Colin Holmes has become commercial director for fresh food at Tesco on his return from sabbatical.

After a string of departures from the supermarket’s senior management team, including Stuart Machin, Colin Smith, Scott Wheway and Ken McMeikan, the move to grant Holmes a sabbatical was seen as an attempt to stop a ‘brain drain’.

Holmes, who has worked at Tesco for more than 20 years and has been touted as a potential successor to Sir Terry Leahy, left his position as chief executive of Tesco’s convenience business in April last year to spend more time with his family and do charity work.

He has also been chief executive of T&S Stores, the convenience store chain that Tesco took over in 2003, and operations director for Tesco superstores, central, and held a variety of other senior finance and operational roles.

He returned to Tesco in January and has spent the start of the year getting back up to speed. He takes over as commercial director of fresh foods from Steve Morrells, who has moved to take on responsibility for the integration of garden centre chain Dobbies.

Source: The Grocer