As Morrisons chief executive Dalton Philips prepares to step down, Retail Week spotlights who could replace him when he departs in March.

Philips is clear that Morrisons’ online grocery operation must be profitable

Ian McLeod

With a remarkable career to date, and wealth of experience in grocery – he notched up 20 years at Asda where he became director of stores and went to Australia to become chief executive of Coles – McLeod could be seen as having the experience to lead Morrisons.

Speculation has been rife for a while now that McLeod, who also has experience leading a listed retailer as chief executive of Halfords and is now group commercial director of Coles’ parent Wesfarmers, might leave the sunny climate Down Under and return to UK retail.

Richard Brasher

Richard Brasher made a surprise exit from Tesco after Phlip Clarke became chief executive

Richard Brasher made a surprise exit from Tesco after Phlip Clarke became chief executive

The former head of Tesco UK left the grocer after 26 years of loyal service and less than a year into running the flagship domestic arm.

When he departed there was speculation about tension between him and the then chief executive Philip Clarke, who said ‘you can’t have two captains in a team’ when he explained Brasher’s exit.

Well versed in the grocery market, Brasher could be a solid contender. But he’ll have to be drawn away from his new life in South Africa where he’s boss of Cape Town-based Pick n Pay Stores.

John Dixon

Another name that’s being mooted is John Dixon, Marks & Spencer’s executive director of general merchandise.

With a career starting in store management at M&S, Dixon moved up the ranks during his long tenure with the retailer, with roles such as executive assistant to Sir Stuart Role, boss of its online operations and executive director of food.

John Durkan

Morrisons’ headhunter might be holding a few overseas calls over the next few months with yet another contender living abroad.

Brought over by McLeod in 2008, Durkan has been at Australian grocer Coles for the past seven years, rising from merchandising director to chief executive last year.

With 17 years at Safeway under his belt and a CV that includes chief operating officer of Carphone Warehouse, Durkan could be a serious candidate for stepping into one of the biggest roles in retail.

Stuart Machin

Stuart Machin

In what’s looking like a Who’s Who of Australian retail, another contender to fill Philips’ boots could be Stuart Machin, managing director of department store group Target.

But he’s a food specialist with roles at Coles, Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s. Morrisons will take note of his key role in turning around Coles.

David Potts

This morning analysts were quick to throw Potts’ name into the ring of potential candidates.

A former shelf stacker who rose to head Tesco’s Asia operations during his four decades at the grocer, Potts stepped down from the retailer in 2012 to “retire from Tesco in order to begin to fulfil long-held personal ambitions”, the business said at the time.

Apart from being appointed a CBE for his services to employment, skills and apprenticeships in retail in 2013, things have been rather quiet from the man who was thought to be a contender with Philip Clarke for the chief executive position at Tesco.

John Browett

Former Dixons boss John Browett is seen as a contender for the top role at Morrisons

 

Former Dixons boss John Browett is seen as a contender for the top role at Morrisons

The former Dixons boss was shown the door at Apple after a short seven months in charge of retail.

But since that setback Browett – also a former Tesco director who ran its online business – has worked magic at Monsoon Accessorize.

As chief executive there, he’s guided the fashion retailer back to the black and worked hard to overhaul the business.

Changes include combining Monsoon and Accessorize stores and investing heavily in multichannel.

With a strategy that seems to be paying off, retail analyst Nick Bubb tweeted this morning that Browett’s could be a contender.