The merry-go-round at the top of grocery continued turning this week as Sainsbury's became the latest retailer to announce a top-level reshuffle.
Analysts welcomed the changes, which saw chief financial officer Darren Shapland become group development director responsible for new business development as well as convenience, Sainsbury's Bank, property and group strategy.
Trading director Mike Coupe was made group commercial director with responsibility for marketing, trading, IT and online. John Rogers replaced Shapland as chief financial officer and Helen Buck was named as convenience director.
However, the internal reshuffle spread further than the high-profile moves released to the City.
Paul Mills-Hicks replaced Buck as business unit director for grocery, having worked for Sainsbury's in roles including executive assistant to Justin King and director of trading finance.
Commercial director Neil Sachdev replaced Rogers as property director, while Jat Sahota, head of marketing for non-foods, was named head of sponsorship.
Sainsbury's would not reveal further details of the reshuffle but admitted it was planning to recruit a marketing director for the operating board. Customer director Gwyn Burr currently has responsibility for marketing on the operating board, as well as own brand and customer service.
It was a "canny move" to retain Shapland at Sainsbury's while M&S was seeking a new finance director to replace Ian Dyson, analysts said.
"Shapland has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the role at M&S and is among the most experienced retail FDs," said one analyst. He is now being tipped as the most likely successor to Sainsbury's CEO Justin King.
The City was also cheered by the promotion of Helen Buck to convenience director a role vacant since Dido Harding left to become CEO of Talk Talk in December last year.
Sainsbury's opened 51 convenience stores last year and has laid out plans to open a further 75 stores in the next year.
Analysts welcomed the changes, which saw chief financial officer Darren Shapland become group development director responsible for new business development as well as convenience, Sainsbury's Bank, property and group strategy.
Trading director Mike Coupe was made group commercial director with responsibility for marketing, trading, IT and online. John Rogers replaced Shapland as chief financial officer and Helen Buck was named as convenience director.
However, the internal reshuffle spread further than the high-profile moves released to the City.
Paul Mills-Hicks replaced Buck as business unit director for grocery, having worked for Sainsbury's in roles including executive assistant to Justin King and director of trading finance.
Commercial director Neil Sachdev replaced Rogers as property director, while Jat Sahota, head of marketing for non-foods, was named head of sponsorship.
Sainsbury's would not reveal further details of the reshuffle but admitted it was planning to recruit a marketing director for the operating board. Customer director Gwyn Burr currently has responsibility for marketing on the operating board, as well as own brand and customer service.
It was a "canny move" to retain Shapland at Sainsbury's while M&S was seeking a new finance director to replace Ian Dyson, analysts said.
"Shapland has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the role at M&S and is among the most experienced retail FDs," said one analyst. He is now being tipped as the most likely successor to Sainsbury's CEO Justin King.
The City was also cheered by the promotion of Helen Buck to convenience director a role vacant since Dido Harding left to become CEO of Talk Talk in December last year.
Sainsbury's opened 51 convenience stores last year and has laid out plans to open a further 75 stores in the next year.
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