Tesco UK & ROI CEO Matt Davies

Davies was Tesco UK and Ireland CEO from January 2015 to April 2018

Greggs has lined up former Tesco boss Matt Davies to be its next chairman.

Davies has already joined the board as an independent non-executive director and will take over from current chair Ian Durant on 1 November.

Davies was Tesco UK and Ireland CEO from January 2015 to April 2018, leaving following the supermarket giant’s takeover of wholesaler Booker. He went on to chair N Brown Group from 2018 to 2021.

Before Tesco he had spells as CEO at Pets at Home and Halfords and was also on the board of Dunelm Group from 2012 to 2015.

He is currently chair of Hobbycraft and an operating partner at Advent International.

“I’m really delighted to be taking on this role,” he said. “Greggs is a great business and a brand that I have long admired. I’m looking forward to working with the board, Roisin [Currie, CEO] and the senior management team to further develop the business over the coming years.”

The appointment will mean Greggs has appointed a new CEO and chairman this year. Currie took over as CEO from Roger Whiteside in May.

Durant said: “Greggs has undergone a transformation over the past decade and I am proud to have contributed to its achievements as chair.

“Greggs has entered a new era, now under Roisin Currie’s leadership, and the business is in great shape with a clear strategy. I welcome Matt Davies as my successor and wish him well.”

Greggs senior independent director Sandra Turner added: “I would like to thank Ian for his considerable contribution to the Greggs business over the past 11 years and we all wish him well for the future.”