Morrisons has announced a raft of senior appointments, with marketing director Angus Maciver exiting the business.

Belinda Youngs (pictured) joins as own-brand director from Canadian retailer Sobeys, where she was chief marketing officer. Nick Collard is named as commercial director for ambient & frozen. He joins from high street chemist Boots, he was brands director.

Both feature stints at Sainsbury’s on their CVs and will report to commercial director Richard Hodgson, who joined from Waitrose in October.

Former Procter & Gamble executive Gordon Mowat, meanwhile, is appointed strategy director. He joins from management consultancy McKinsey and is charged with developing the retailer’s long-term business plans, reporting to finance chief Richard Pennycook.

Maciver is replaced as marketing director by Richard Lancaster.

The new continues an overhaul of the supermarket’s top brass that began with the arrival of Dalton Philips as chief executive last year, succeeding Marc Bolland.

“Belinda, Gordon and Nick are outstanding business people and together represent a big step forward in the strength of our operational and strategic capabilities and the pace at which we can execute,” said Philips.

“We also continue to develop internal talent, with an individual of the calibre of Richard Lancaster becoming marketing director.”

He added: “Morrisons is clearly able to attract the brightest and the best talent from around the world and I look forward to working with the team in the coming months as we implement our plans to make Morrisons ‘Different and Better than Ever’.”

Read more
The new generals of retailing (6 November 2010)
Hodgson arrives at Morrisons after long exit from Waitrose (16 October 2010)