Asda chair Allan Leighton has launched into cost-cutting with management shake-up

According to The Telegraph, Asda alerted staff that it had removed 14 regional manager positions as part of broader efforts to overhaul the retailer. 

The move comes after Asda’s disappointing Christmas trading performance, which saw the retailer record its poorest festive results since 2015.

Sales declined by 5.8% during the 12 weeks to December 29, highlighting the significant challenges ahead of Leighton, who succeeded Lord Stuart Rose as chair in late 2024.

In a memo sent to Asda staff on January 7, Asda reportedly announced consolidation of its operational structure, reducing the number of management sub-regions from 30 to 22. Under the new arrangement, fewer regional managers will oversee a larger portfolio of supermarkets and express stores, with four roles impacted in the retail team and nine roles impacted within express. 

“Change is never easy and unfortunately we have had to say goodbye to a number of colleagues,” the internal communication read. 

This early restructuring effort may signal further changes ahead, with additional job reductions anticipated in 2025, according to earlier reports by The Telegraph.

An Asda spokesperson said: “We made changes to our field-based retail team regions to reflect the scale of our business across large stores and convenience. These changes set us up to serve our customers in the best way for 2025 as we deliver Asda Price and other exciting propositions.”