Asda has promoted brand director Hemant Patel to become strategy director as it reviews its plans for the next five years.

Patel, who has been at Asda for seven years, took up the new post this month. His appointment comes as Asda brings on board strategy consultancy McKinsey to devise a five-year plan. 

The new plan, to be drawn under the leadership of chief executive Andy Clarke, is likely to put boosting Asda’s multichannel credentials at its heart.

It is also expected that, given the changing conditions faced by retailers including the rise of online retail, elements of the five-year strategy laid out by former Asda chief executive Andy Bond three years ago will be rewritten. 

Patel has a wealth of experience within Asda. He joined Asda in 2006 as head of business development and has also held the role of retail finance director. 

He has also worked for FMCG giant Mars as well as household goods specialist SC Johnson. He will work alongside head of strategy and change Sarah Ramsey.

Responsibility for strategy had previously been held by commercial finance and strategy director Rob McWilliam who is now working on business development projects for Asda parent Walmart across the UK, Europe and Africa. 

Asda last week reported gross profit increased over the fourth quarter despite like-for-likes remaining flat over Christmas. 

In the 14 weeks ending January 5, like-for-likes, excluding petrol, increased 0.1% while full year like-for-likes edged up 1%.

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