Martin Beaumont, who has overseen the group's exit from traditional businesses such as milk processing and car sales, said he was leaving the 3,000-strong store group with 'a strong platform' for future growth.
At its half-year results in September, the company said that its pre-tax profit had jumped 32 per cent to£157.4 million. Like-for-like sales rose 3.3 per cent in the food retail business and 7 per cent at its convenience stores.
Co-operative chairman Bob Burlton said Beaumont had 'successfully steered the group through a defining period in its history' and had 'tackled the legacy and structural issues that have impeded our performance in the past'.
The Co-op Group board will discuss appointing Beaumont's successor at a meeting next month.
Meanwhile, the Co-op's pharmacy division revealed today that it has appointed Gordon Farquhar - formerly operations general manager at Halfords - as head of commercial.
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