Asda chair Allan Leighton has restarted the supermarket’s search for a new chief executive following a failed effort by his predecessor Lord Rose.
Leighton, who returned to the business in November after 24 years, is thought to be seeking a candidate who he can work alongside rather than oversee, The Telegraph reported.
The move means that Leighton will maintain significant involvement in Asda’s turnaround strategy as he looks to steer the retailer through tough competition and revitalise its performance.
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The supermarket has been without a CEO since Roger Burnley left abruptly in August 2021 following a fall-out with its private equity owners TDR Capital.
Sources reported that “a whole conveyor belt of people” had turned down the job, despite the prospect of a pay package worth up to £10m a year.
The news comes as Asda is said to be gearing up to roll out its largest Rollback price cuts campaign in years, which will span both in-store and online product ranges.
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