Ocado eyes up former Microsoft exec as next chair

Former Microsoft executive Adam Warby has reportedly emerged as the leading candidate to replace current chair Rick Haythornthwaite. Warby currently chairs the board of executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles and is a senior advisor to private equity powerhouse KKR. 

According to Sky, Warby’s appointment could be confitrmed as early as November. 

Warby is the former chair of the Swiss-based software provider SoftwareOne, and held a string of senior roles at IBM and Microsoft earlier in his career. He also spent more than a decade as chief executrive of digital and cloud services provider Avanade – a joint venture between Microsoft and Accenture. 

Ocado Retail, the joint venture between Ocado and M&S, recently reported a 15.5% surge in retail revenue year on year for the 13 weeks to September 1, 2024, up from £569.6m to £658m.

The online grocer hailed its “continued momentum” for the revenue growth and its ongoing progress to offer “unbeatable choice, unrivalled service and reassuringly good value” for customers.

The retailer has also been the fastest growing grocer in the UK for seven straight months. 

Warby’s appointment was triggered by former chair Haythornthwaite’s appointment as the new chair of the NatWest Group.