Former Co-op boss Jo Whitfield has been appointed as the first female chair of the BRC.
Whitfield, whose 25 years in the industry has also included leadership roles at Asda and Matalan, will succeed former Morrisons chairman Andy Higginson when his tenure comes to an end on 2 October.
The appointment comes six months after Whitfield was made a non-executive director of Asda under Allan Leighton’s turnaround programme.
Whitfield is also a non-executive director and chair of the ethics committee at Factory International, host of the Manchester International Festival.
She is a respected grocery leader and one of the most successful executives in the industry, having previously founded and chaired The Grocery Girls network. She was also an advisor and retail sector lead on the Women’s Business Council.
She played a leading role campaigning alongside the BRC to achieve better safety recognition and a change to the law to protect retail shopworkers.
Whitfield will be joined by Eve Williams, who will become a non-executive director on the BRC board. Williams is VP and general manager of eBay UK. She has held executive marketing and customer roles at both eBay and at Asos, before being appointed VP & general manager of the UK eBay business in 2023.
The BRC represents more than 200 retailers and brands in membership and thousands of smaller retailers represented through trade association members.
“I’m honoured to be joining the BRC as its first female chair, and to be supporting Helen Dickinson and her team at such a pivotal time,” Whitfield said.
“Retail is an incredibly valuable industry, employing over three million people who support their families through their work. It’s also uniquely inclusive and many of us have built our careers from the shop floor or from working-class backgrounds, rising into leadership roles and enjoying fulfilling careers.
“Retailers are at the heart of communities, and we’re acutely aware of the many government policies currently under consideration that could either support or hinder our industry. This is a critical moment for us all and now, more than ever, we need a strong, united voice. I look forward to working closely with Helen and the team to ensure the interests of our industry are championed and protected.”
Williams added: “Retailers are currently navigating a truly unprecedented pace of change. I have experienced first-hand the importance of the BRC’s work and the strength of its diverse membership to make a positive difference amidst this backdrop. The challenges of sustainability, digital transformation, and creating fair opportunity across the industry are all passion points for me and areas where the BRC has achieved much already – I’m energised to be working with the board on these areas and more as the team continues to influence impactful change.”
Dickinson added: “Jo and Eve join the board as we deal with multiple public policy headwinds and more to do on big issues like climate change, inclusion, and creating the right environment for growth and investment. I know how passionate they both are on these areas and particularly on people so it’s great to welcome two more women to our board and our first female chair.
“It has been a pleasure working with Andy and I would like to thank him for his pragmatic, down-to-earth advice, leadership and support over the past two-and-a-half years. We are a stronger organisation for it.”
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