Asda Appoints Former CEO Allan Leighton as New Chair
Asda, the UK's third-largest supermarket chain, has appointed former CEO Allan Leighton as its new chair. Leighton, who led Asda from 1996 to 2000, will replace Lord Stuart Rose, who has served as chair since 2021.
Leighton's appointment comes at a critical time for Asda, which is facing a number of challenges, including an ongoing IT overhaul, declining sales, and fierce competition. In recent months, the company has also faced issues with product availability, store cleanliness, and customer experience.
Despite these challenges, Leighton is confident that Asda has the potential to regain its competitive edge. He plans to refocus the company on its value proposition and "go back to the future but with modernity."
Leighton's experience and understanding of Asda will be invaluable as he leads the business into the next stage of its development. He will also continue the search for a new chief executive.
Lord Rose, who will remain on the board temporarily to ensure a smooth transition, expressed his confidence in Leighton's ability to lead Asda through this challenging period. He noted that Asda would "benefit enormously from Allan's experience" and expressed his intent to support the chain "as a shareholder and customer over the coming years.