Andrew Staniland, once set to join Asda, has opted for a role at Morrisons instead.
- Staniland was initially announced as a VP at Asda, starting in March.
- He will now assume the position of group trading director at Morrisons in February.
- Morrisons’ CEO praised Staniland’s illustrious career in retail.
- Asda faces further challenges, including planned job cuts in its IT department.
Andrew Staniland has made a significant career decision by deciding to join Morrisons, abandoning his previously announced move to Asda. Initially, Staniland was slated to start as a Vice President at Asda in March of the following year. However, he will now take on the role of Group Trading Director and become a member of the Executive Committee at Morrisons, effective February.
Staniland’s move to Morrisons comes after four years as the trading director at Iceland. He also brings his valuable experience from previous positions at Waitrose and Aldi. His recruitment was previously perceived as advantageous for Asda, especially given the recent series of senior management departures from the company.
Morrisons’ CEO, Rami Baitiéh, expressed his enthusiasm for Staniland’s return to the company, highlighting his strong track record in high-profile roles at Iceland and Aldi. According to Baitiéh, “Andrew is an exceptional talent,” who is well familiar with Morrisons, having worked there in various buying roles before.
Meanwhile, Morrisons confirmed that their current Group Commercial Director, James Badger, will transition to a new role as Group Strategy and Transformation Director. CEO Baitiéh acknowledged Badger’s contributions in his existing position, showing confidence in Badger’s capabilities in his upcoming role.
The backdrop to Staniland’s decision is marked by difficulties at Asda, where the company is reportedly planning job reductions in its IT department. These cuts are part of its ongoing IT overhaul, scheduled to be completed early next year.
Staniland’s switch to Morrisons underscores a pivotal change in the grocery sector’s leadership dynamics.
