Sainsbury’s new boss Simon Roberts has reshuffled his senior leadership team on his first day at the helm.

Chief digital director Clodagh Moriarty has taken on an expanded remit at the grocer in the new role of retail and digital director.

Sainsbury’s chief marketing officer Mark Given has been promoted to the retailer’s operating board as part of the changes.

Moriarty has been at Sainsbury’s for a decade and became the grocer’s first ever chief digital director when she was promoted to the role in June 2018.

In her new role, she will take on additional responsibility for Sainsbury’s and Argos stores and creating an “integrated and seamless experience” across the group’s stable of brands, which also includes Habitat and its Tu clothing business.

Given has been with Sainsbury’s for seven years and is responsible for customer insight, marketing strategy, CRM and loyalty, as well as the Nectar business.

Both appointments, which are effective immediately, were revealed by Roberts in a message to staff this morning.

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Roberts, who officially takes the reins from former chief executive Mike Coupe today, said in the note: “As our customers’ lives have changed over the last two months, so have we. What I am most proud of is the way that we have constantly listened to our customers and quickly adapted to what they have told us.

“Bringing together our retail and digital teams under Clo’s leadership will create a business that shows up in the same way for customers wherever they shop with us. Mark’s appointment to the operating board will ensure that we really understand how customers are feeling, what they’re thinking and how this affects the way they shop.”

Roberts is spending his first day as chief executive in listening groups with Sainsbury’s customers. He said he will be “spending more time with customers and listening to their feedback” as he gets to grips with his new role at the head of Britain’s second-biggest supermarket chain.

Roberts added: “I am really looking forward to hearing directly from people about what they want from us so we can change and adapt to ensure we are always meeting their needs.”

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