Wilko has appointed former Specsavers finance director Karen Mackay as its new chief financial officer, Retail Week can reveal.

Mackay joins the value retailer from healthcare firm Optegra where she was chief financial officer for the last five years.

Mackay will join Wilko in September and be tasked with overseeing the retailer’s finance, IT, corporate services, health and safety, and loss prevention functions. She succeeds Alex Russo who was snapped up by rival retailer B&M in March.

Mackay’s appointment follows Jerome Saint-Marc joining as chief executive earlier this year.

Wilko family director Lisa Wilkinson said: “We are thrilled to welcome Karen. She strengthens our senior team with not just financial leadership but a proven track record in delivering significant strategic change both within and outside a family business context.” 

Mackay said: “My family and my home are extremely important to me and as a family-owned business that’s been meeting customers’ home and garden needs for 90 years, I couldn’t be in better company at Wilko.”

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