New Morrisons boss Rami Baitiéh prepares staff for changes

New boss Rami Baitiéh, who joined from Carrefour last month, warned staff that businesses are “like candles that will burn out unless they change”, according to The Sunday Times. 

Turnaround specialist Baitiéh has reportedly sought to inject a sense of urgency by starkly laying out the retailer’s debt, in what was a “gulp moment for everyone”, a Morrisons insider said. 

According to the report, at 7pm each evening on Monday to Saturday, the top 150 people at the retailer are required to join Baitiéh on an hour-long session on Google Chat. 

During these meetings, Baitiéh shares what he has learned and observed on his daily, unannounced store visits, and shares any pressing complaints sent in via the supermarket’s website. 

Baitiéh is also said to have told staff the two most important groups in Morrisons are buyers and store managers – and that he planned to hand them more autonomy.

Morrisons was acquired by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice for £7bn in 2021, before a steep hike in interest rates left the supermarket owing £400m of annual interest payments on £6.6bn of debt.