Asda has temporarily halted its search for a new boss to succeed Roger Burnley, with co-owner Mohsin Issa understood to be overseeing day-to-day operations in the interim.
Asda, which has been without a chief executive since Burnley’s departure last August, has suspended its search following a lack of interest in the role from potential suitors.
It is understood that Issa is spending the majority of his time at the grocer’s Leeds headquarters as an interim measure.
The search to replace Burnley, whose abrupt exit last summer was initially planned to take place after his successor had joined the business, has been ongoing for more than a year.
In that time, it is understood that top contenders for the role – including Tesco UK and Ireland boss Jason Tarry, Marks & Spencer Food boss Stuart Machin, Morrisons chief operating officer Trevor Strain and outgoing Pets at Home chief executive Peter Pritchard – have all turned down the job.
According to The Times, the role has been described by insiders as “the job no one wants” as Burnley’s successor would be expected to play second fiddle to new owners the Issa brothers’ and recently appointed chair and former M&S boss Lord Stuart Rose.
When Rose joined Asda, he said that appointing a new chief executive was “a priority for the board” but it is now understood that the existing structure will be left as it is for the time being.
After a flurry of senior exits following the £6.8bn takeover by the Issa brothers and TDR Capital last year, Asda has strengthened its executive bench in recent months. The grocer has poached Nisa boss Ken Towle to run its store operations, and longstanding Tesco director Kris Comerford has been appointed as commercial director of its food business.
It is understood these appointments have meant there is sufficient grocery expertise on the board to pause the search for a chief executive for now.
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