Breakfast briefing: Retail news on Co-op, Morrisons and Apple

Former Co-op procurement director seeks damages over unfair dismissal

The Co-operative Group has come under corporate malpractice allegations, BBC reported.

Kathleen Harmeston, the mutual’s former procurement director, told an employment tribunal that she was unfairly dismissed in 2014 after she used whistleblowing procedures to report unlawful, corrupt or irregular use of members' money, and the commission of criminal offences.

Harmeston is seeking more than £5m in damages from the retailer for her “humiliating” sacking from the retailer.

However, The Co-op says she was sacked because her behaviour was not in keeping with her role.

Publicis London to get Morrisons’ creative business

Morrisons will hand its £73m creative account to Publicis London, according to The Drum.

The decision comes after a review that kicked off in October last year which saw the agency compete with JWT, and CHI&Partners and Grey.

The grocer severed ties with agency of nine years DLKW Lowe, which declined to re-pitch.

Retail boss Angela Ahrendts becomes highest paid at Apple in 2015

Apple's senior vice president for retail and online stores earned a whopping $25.8m, becoming the highest paid executive at the company in 2015.

Angela Ahrendts’ pay package includes a $1m base salary, a $20m stock grant, a $4m bonus and relocation expenses of $474,981.

Meanwhile, the tech giant’s boss was the lowest-paid of the company's top executives.

Tim Cook's compensation rose 11.5% to $10.3m in 2015. His base pay grew about 14.4% to $2m, with non-equity incentive compensation rising about 19% to $8m.