Very Group drafts in former Walmart director as chief executive

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Online retailer Very Group has appointed an ex-Walmart executive to become chief executive as Henry Birch stands down after four and a half years in charge.

Lionel Desclee

Lionel Desclée has been named chief executive of Very Group

Very has recruited Lionel Desclée as Birch’s successor. Desclée, who was president and chief executive of Walmart’s Japanese business for three years, joins the retailer from McKinsey & Company, where he is a senior advisor, and will take over from Birch in September.

During Birch’s time in charge, Very Group generated sales of more than £2bn for the first time and in 2021 the business generated record revenue and EBITDA.

The retailer said: “Henry has helped to transform the group, including implementing a rebrand, launching its highly automated fulfilment centre in the East Midlands, making its AI-powered chatbot the most popular customer service channel and successfully navigating the pandemic.”

At Walmart’s Seiyu supermarket business in Japan, where he oversaw a workforce of 35,000, Very said Desclée – who has also previously worked for retailers including Delhaize – “accelerated its move into digital through a joint venture with online retailer Rakuten, secured record-breaking colleague engagement, grew customer satisfaction and increased market share”. He also led Walmart’s subsequent partial exit from Seiyu.

Very Group chair Dirk Van den Berghe said: “Lionel is a highly respected leader with a wealth of global experience across digital and both food and non-food omnichannel retail. He has a proven track record of achieving growth through transformation and operational excellence, developing and coaching world-class teams, and helping companies become even more customer-centric.

“I am confident that Lionel’s collaborative and strategic approach will prove invaluable as the Very Group further develops its proposition, having successfully navigated the pandemic.

“Henry has guided the group superbly over the last four and a half years. He is a dedicated, innovative and people-oriented leader, and he leaves a fantastic legacy. When he heads off to take on his next challenge later this year, it will be with our very best wishes.”