Asda non-food chief to leave

Bond has handed Pritchard’s responsibilities to food trading director Darren Blackhurst. Blackhurst will become group trading director, with responsibility for food and non-food.

Bond said: “I have recently been looking at the roles and responsibilities of my executive team. One of the conclusions I have reached is that the clarity of our trading proposition should be the responsibility of one individual.”

He added: “Darren Blackhurst joined Asda from Tesco Thailand and has made a major contribution to spearheading our food trading proposition in the past few years. Food has continued to outperform the business plan and the wider market, and has been a material factor in our recovery as a business. Darren is a natural trader.”

Pritchard has been with Asda for 12 years and held senior roles in food, retail development and, most recently, general merchandise. Bond said: “He leaves with us a track record of always delivering for the business with the utmost integrity, leading and developing his people and living the Asda values. I wish him well for the future.”