Wilko MD Alison Hands is set to move to Lincolnshire Co-op as CEO next year.
Hands will be replacing Ursula Lidbetter, who announced her retirement in March after 37 years with the society, including 18 as CEO.
Lidbetter will retire at the end of December, with CFO Steve Galjaard becoming acting CEO until Hands’ takeover in April.
Hands will be bringing 33 years’ of retail experience, including with Marks and Spencer, The Body Shop, Walgreens Boots Alliance and Boots Opticians. She joined Wilko in 2018 as commercial execution director before becoming trading director in 2020 and then MD in 2021.
Wilko CEO Jerome Saint-Marc said Hands would stay with the business until the end of January “to ensure a smooth transition”, with an announcement on her successor coming soon.
Hands said: “I’m honoured to be joining this values-driven organisation, which continues to build on its success, whilst delivering its purpose to make life better in communities.
“I’m excited to be charged with leading the society through the next phase of its development, as we collectively tackle the challenges of the current external environment.”
Read more: Wilko’s woes highlight its unlikely challenge in the cost of living crisis
Lincolnshire Co-op chair David Cowell said: “Under Ursula’s expert leadership, our society has flourished. She’s overseen our busy programme of work throughout 2022 and will be retiring, leaving Lincolnshire Co-op in a great position for the future.
“We welcome Alison to the society with the knowledge she will continue this good work and help us move forward. She brings a wealth of experience and insight, as well as a deep understanding of bricks and mortar retail and what that means to customers. She’s also passionate about our purpose and values.
“I’d like to thank Ursula, my fellow board of directors, the senior leadership team and our colleagues for supporting this process.”
Lidbetter added: “I’ve served the society for nearly a quarter of our 161 years. Now feels the right time to pass the baton on.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how Lincolnshire Co-op develops under Alison’s leadership, working alongside the great team we have in place.”
Reports emerged this week that Wilko is in emergency talks with lenders to secure a £30m loan after failing to agree an extension to its revolving credit facility. The business recently offloaded its distribution centre in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, to DHL for £48m in a sale and leaseback deal.
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