Co-op is pushing ahead with its commercial restructure in the wake of shock departures earlier this month.
It is seeking four new head of commercial roles, three full time and one part time, to help drive its new group commercial and logistics division, led by food MD Matt Hood, which involves a merger of Co-op’s buying teams across retail, wholesale, societies and franchise.
The restructure, however, has led to controversy over recent weeks after chief commercial officer Sinead Bell exited the business earlier this month.
She had been appointed in September to lead its newly established independent buying group for all food and goods for resale, which was one of three business units in the new group commercial and logistics division.
Bell left the Co-op along with propositions director Adele Balmforth, who was also set to play a crucial role in the restructure, including helping to grow own-label sales in the wholesale channel.
There has also been widespread concern and confusion over the ongoing collective consultations with commercial colleagues amid the restructure, which Bell had been leading.
Suppliers are also questioning how the new strategy will work, expressing concern over the lack of distinction between activation plans for Co-op stores and independent customers.
In a forthright post on LinkedIn yesterday (28 October), Hood has set out to reenergise the restructure plans, explaining that the society was on the “brink of creating something unique”.
“Soon our partners and suppliers will see exactly what we’ve been building and how it benefits all of us,” he said.
“At the heart of this transformation is our ambition to create a world-class commercial buying team. A team with the people, skills, and tools to grow our significant £9bn buying group even further — in a first of its kind, progressive structure that works for all the channels we service.
“No noise, no distractions — just permission to buy, to create brilliant partnerships, discover great innovation and products, and a relentless focus on being the best in the industry and a buying group that opens the door for brilliant buying talent — people who see themselves among the very best, ready to shape the next chapter of a business that’s setting new standards in buying excellence.
“If that sounds like you, we’d love to meet you.”
The new roles, which will add to six existing head of commercial positions, will report into three directors of commercial: Tom Bradley, Stephanie Blane and Rebecca Oliver Mooney. Bradley, Blane and Mooney report directly to Matt Hood.
No comments yet