Asda has restructured the leadership of its commercial team following the latest round of head office job cuts, The Grocer can reveal.
It has created “broader” business unit roles, with category heads given wider areas of responsibility. Asda has also integrated its own brand teams into the broader units, in a move chief commercial officer Darren Blackhurst said would “improve alignment and accelerate product development” across teams.
Following a review of “internal ways of working and culture, including reviewing legacy job titles” all buyers will now be known as traders, to better reflect their responsibility for both buying and selling.
Blackhurst introduced the new look commercial team leadership to suppliers in an update this week. It has seen a number of existing buyers given expanded responsibilities.
New responsibilities and some familiar faces
Sean Gill, who joined from Morrisons in January as frozen business unit director (BUD) is now BUD for frozen and meat, fish and poultry.
Impulse director Gemma Lightbody will now also oversee beers, wines and spirits as the now BUD for impulse grocery and BWS.
Meanwhile, Matt Shields, previously BUD for core grocery, is now BUD for core grocery, world foods, local & free from. Ian Cummings will now oversee Asda’s hospitality offer as the now BUD for bakery, counters & café. Faye Breckons will be interim BUD for healthcare.
Some of the most significant changes are to the leadership of fresh and frozen, two of Asda’s target growth categories. Rebecca Stanton, who joined the business in June as director for chilled and meal solutions, is now BUD for chilled and convenience, “with an expanded remit”.
Jenny Cannon will now have permanent responsibility for produce, having previously handled it on an interim basis prior to Stanton’s appointment.
New roles have also been created as part of the restructure. Andy Peake, currently chief commercial officer at Central Co-op, will return to the business at which he spent nearly 20 years later this month as BUD for non-edible grocery.
Jon Downes will join as ambient trading director from August. His appointment from M&S was previously confirmed by Asda following the departure of long-time ambient boss Duncan Cross. Shields, Peake, Lightbody and Breckons will report into Downes.
The restructure comes after The Grocer revealed that Asda would cut 150 jobs from its Asda House headquarters in Leeds last week.
While Asda has not confirmed how many, The Grocer understands that several members of the commercial team were affected, and have left the business.
Veteran McEvans leaves
Separately, Asda confirmed today that commercial food VP Ian McEvans is to leave the supermarket after 28 years.
He had been responsible for fresh and frozen since November 2024. McEvans also led the commercial team on an interim basis between the departure of Kris Comerford and prior to Blackhurst’s reappointment in July 2025.
“Ian has done almost every role possible at Asda…has been a mentor and colleague to many and always a stalwart on everything he does and has done,” Asda executive chairman Allan Leighton said in a note to colleagues this morning.
“He is going to take some time off before deciding what he wants to do next and does so not just with our best wishes, but with our greatest thanks to a great colleague.”
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