Leading supermarket group Morrisons is changing key personnel in its commercial division as part of a refocusing of the group‘s aims, it was revealed today.
According to a report in The Financial Times (FT), Marketing Director Richard Lancaster is leaving the retailer to take up a role outside of the supermarket sector and is to be replaced by current Grocery Director Nick Collard.
Mike Snell, who is Director of Non-food at the grocer will now take responsibility for all non-food operations apart from fashion, with that division controlled by Tim Bettley who was hired last month as Morrisons‘ first Director of Clothing.
Collard joined Morrisons from Boots just over a year ago where he was Brand Director, and in his new role he will be in charge of deciding which products and offers are promoted to customers through advertising.
All members of the new look team will report to Richard Hodgson, the group‘s Commercial Director who oversees the retailer‘s marketing strategy.
A spokesman from Morrisons said: “We are delighted Nick is moving into the Marketing & Operations Director role, reporting to Richard Hodgson.
“He has a great record in his first 15 months at Morrison and is a highly rated marketeer. He‘s one of our rising stars.”
The FT claims that Morrisons plans to revamp its existing supermarkets while expanding its portfolio of smaller stores, and extend its presence in non-food product categories such as fashion.
Although stores will play a part in the new product focus, much of its non-food expansion is expected to follow in the lines of its takeover of Kiddicare.com and take place online.
