The Co-op raids Asda and Tesco for new senior trio

The Co-op has appointed three new heads of commercial trading as new chief executive Steve Murrells bolsters his senior management team.

Former Asda category director Ian Martin takes up the position of head of commercial trading for beers, wines and spirits, tobacco and frozen food. 

Matt Hood will take up the role of Co-op head of commercial trading for dairy, chilled prepared foods and protein next month after leaving Tesco where he was sourcing director for frozen foods.

CJ Antal-Smith will be joining The Co-op from Asda next February as head of The Co-op’s core grocery, impulse grocery and non-edible grocery categories.

Mark Owen, formerly head of commercial chilled and frozen categories, is The Co-op’s new head of commercial trading for fuel and non-food turnover. He will also lead sales development and promotions.

Mike Owen will continue as head of commercial trading for produce and bakery, but will also take on Antal-Smiths’ responsibilities until she joins.

The Co-op Food commercial director Mike Osmond said: “We are embarking on a strategic programme to deliver ambitious commercial trading levels, and I am confident that these key appointments will complement and strengthen our existing commercial and senior management teams.”