Mike Logue named managing director
Asda has appointed Gamestation managing director Mike Logue to spearhead a massive roll out of its Asda Living format.

Logue has been named managing director of the grocer's non-food format and is charged with expanding Asda Living from 10 stores to 300. He will be the lynchpin in Asda's battle to steal general merchandise market share from Argos, Tesco and Ikea.

Logue will take up his new role at the end of September. He told Retail Week: 'It is an exciting company to work for and certainly something I am looking forward to. My background is about growing retail businesses and brands. You can take from that that it will be about growing the business.'

Logue joined Gamestation in 2002 and expanded the business from 50 to 250 shops in just five years, before it was bought by rival Game for£74 million this May.

Logue cut his retail expansion teeth as commercial controller at Marks & Spencer in Hong Kong and then with Phones 4U in the UK. A source close to Logue said his skills were in expanding businesses. 'He's not a one-trick pony. He has headroom,' he added.

Mintel senior retail analyst Richard Caines said there is huge potential for the Asda Living format. He said Logue's appointment was 'a signal of intent'.

'It shows that Asda is very committed to growing that format,' he said.

Logue will report to chief operating officer Dave Cheesewright.

Game said it would not seek a replacement for Logue and the existing Gamestation directors will take on his responsibilities.

Separately, Game is on the hunt for a managing director for its eponymous chain. Robert Quinn, its operations director, is to leave the business after 10 years for personal reasons.