Co-op group managing director to leave the business

The c-store specialist confirmed the departures of Hood, as well as commercial director for fresh and chilled Nicole Tallant and Tom Bradley, commercial director for strategy and supplier relationships.

“I can confirm Matt Hood, Nicole Tallant and Tom Bradley have decided to leave our Co-op to take up new roles outside of the food retail sector,” said interim chief executive Kate Allum.

“I’m pleased that all three will remain with us for some months to ensure a well-managed transition, maintain stability and continue to help deliver our strategy.

“Between them, Matt, Nicole and Tom have made a significant contribution to our food business and to the wider Co-op, with their commitment, leadership and expertise having a lasting impact, and they will be greatly missed by colleagues across the business. We wish all three of them the very best for the future.”

The Co-op also said it will make changes to the group commercial and logistics division originally formed under Hood, with chief procurement officer Imran Rasul to take on the newly created role of chief commercial officer.

According to The Grocer, teams will now be organised into separate commercial and logistics functions, with Rasul leading commercial and supply chain and logistics director Andy Wilmot leading logistics.

Hood’s departure is the latest in a string of high profile senior leaders leaving the c-store business in recent months, following the publication earlier this year of a letter sent to board members, seen by the BBC, describing a culture of “fear and alienation” among senior staff who felt unable to speak up in front of the senior leadership team, headed by then group CEO Shirine Khoury-Haq.

In March, it was announced that Khoury-Haq would be leaving the business, but she and the Co-op denied the allegations of a “toxic” culture at the top of the organisation.

In February, former quick commerce managing director Chris Conway exited. Conway followed the likes of chief commercial officer Sinead Bell, propositions director Adele Balmforth and managing director for growth and business to business Jerome Saint-Marc, who have all recently left the Co-op.