Morrisons has handed a new role to its group manufacturing director, Mark Harrison, who becomes group supply chain and projects director.

He will continue to take responsibility for supply chain on the board as well as lead major projects designed to improve the Bradford-based chain’s customer experience and help it operate more efficiently.

Harrison will work directly with chairman Andy Higginson on delivering key projects to improve trading.

Andrew Thornber, meanwhile, will take day-to-day responsibility for the manufacturing business as manufacturing managing director. His previous role was manufacturing managing director (operations).  He will report into Casper Meijer, group trading director.

Both directors’ roles will be effective from Monday.

Higginson said: “Mark has done an exceptional job in quickly developing our manufacturing capability to produce more of our fresh food from our own factories. Mark will now be working on important projects, such as improving our stock and cash management.”