Asda director Doug Gurr to leave in January

Gurr, who was responsible for strategy, logistics and multichannel, will spend three months helping Asda chairman Andy Bond with the Massmart acquisition in South Africa, then leave the business. It is not known where he is moving to post Massmart.

Chief executive Andy Clarke said during Gurr’s leadership the grocer has “transformed Asda.com into Britain’s second-biggest home shopping service, launched Asda Direct, built a sizeable financial services business and rolled out in-store collection to more than 300 stores”. He said: “We’re now extremely well-placed to become Britain’s favourite retailer across even more channels.”

As a result of Gurr’s departure, Clarke has restructured the operations that he looked after.

New chief operating officer Simon King joins on January 10 and in addition to him taking responsibility for retail, supply chain, distribution, customer service, and internal communications, he will also look after new business and IT.

Chief finance officer Judith McKenna will also take care of retail development in addition to finance.

As a result of these changes, Steve Masters, property development director, and his team will report into McKenna. Until completion of the Netto integration, the supermarkets division, led by Karen Hubbard, will also report to McKenna.

Cheryl Millington, CIO and business transformation director and her ISD team will report into King, as will Mark Hodgkinson, digital director, new business, and Clive West, operations director, new business.

Clarke said: “I’d like to personally thank Doug for his contribution to the business over the last four and half years, and wish him every success in the future.”