// Sainsbury’s has hired McColl’s chief commercial officer Richard Crampton to lead fresh food and food services
// McColl’s said Crampton will not be directly replaced as chief commercial officer
Sainsbury’s has poached McColl’s chief commercial officer Richard Crampton to take up the role of director of fresh food and food services as it ramps up focus on its core grocery business.
As a result, Crampton has stepped down from the McColl’s board with immediate effect and the company has agreed to release him from his notice obligation on February 18 following a handover period.
Crampton will leave McColl’s next month and will take up his new role at the supermarket giant later in the year.
READ MORE:
- Sainsbury’s upgrades full year profits after strong Christmas
- Sainsbury’s payroll system targeted in cyber attack affecting 150,000 employees
- McColl’s beats target to launch 100th Morrisons Daily store
The switch will mark a return for Crampton who previously spent almost eight years with Sainsbury’s, spanning several senior roles.
He joined Sainsbury’s in 2008 as category manager and managing director of its online entertainment division. In 2012, he took on responsibility for petrol, news and magazines, tobacco and kiosk, before being named chief executive of Sainsbury’s Mobile in October 2013.
McColl’s chief executive Jonathan Miller said: “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Richard for the valuable contribution he has made to the business over the past two years, and to wish him every success in his future role.”
McColl’s said Crampton will not be directly replaced as chief commercial officer. Instead, chief operating officer Karen Bird will take on additional commercial responsibilities.
Prior to joining McColl’s in 2016, she spent over 25 years with Tesco where she led significant change programmes.
Bird will be taking over a commercial team that was recently strengthened with the appointment of Paul Cunningham as commercial director, who joined from Co-operative Group, and Rob George as customer director, who joined from Sainsbury’s.
Miller added: “Karen has made a significant contribution to the business since joining in 2016 and has been instrumental in leading the Morrisons Daily rollout. With these changes I am confident that we have a strong team in place to implement our strategy, and that the rollout of Morrisons Daily will deliver long-term sustainable growth.”
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
