Halfords poaches former Tesco and Virgin Active finance boss

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Halfords has recruited former Tesco and Virgin Active executive Jo Hartley as its new chief financial officer.

Hartley, who will take up her new role at Halfords in April, is also set to join the retailer’s executive board and will succeed Loraine Woodhouse who has been chief financial officer since 2018.

Hartley has been group chief financial officer at Virgin Active since 2015. She previously worked at Deloitte UK before working in several roles across Tesco, including finance director for convenience stores, operations and property.

She also spent time as the chief financial role for Tesco’s Polish operations and later acted as interim finance director for Tesco UK.

Halfords chair Keith Williams said: “On behalf of the board, I am delighted to be welcoming someone of Jo’s calibre to Halfords. Her experience and expertise will be invaluable as we look to build on the strong momentum within the business, while also navigating our way through the current challenges and uncertainties of the wider trading environment.

“I would also like to express the board’s thanks to Loraine for her commitment, professionalism and dedication to Halfords during her time at the group; I’m sure she will do well as she pursues a non-executive career.”

Hartley said: “Halfords is a great business with a strong brand proposition and I am excited about the prospect of helping the group achieve its ambitious plans in the strategically important areas of motoring services, digital and B2B. I am looking forward to getting started and to working with the team on the many initiatives that are currently underway across the business.”