Morrisons has put supply chain and projects director Mark Harrison in charge of property as it bids to rejuvenate its store estate.

Harrison has been handed the new role of property services director, which will see him spearhead the retailer’s efforts to breathe new life into its supermarkets, Retail Week has learned.

A Morrisons spokesman said Harrison’s wide-ranging new remit, which was announced internally last week, includes “responsibility for maintenance, construction, energy, store planning and design”.

Retail Week understands Harrison was heavily involved in the design of a new-look Morrisons logo, currently being piloted at its store in the Merrion Centre in Leeds, before taking on his new role.  

Harrison, who was only handed the role of supply chain and projects director in February, is a Morrisons veteran, having joined the grocer as a management trainee in 1980. He has held a number of senior positions during the past 35 years, including that of stores director.

Earlier this month Morrisons revealed plans to shutter a further 11 stores as boss David Potts seeks to transform the grocer.

As previously reported, Harrison lost his seat on the management board back in March as Potts wielded the axe on the senior management line-up. The cull saw five of the 12 members of the Morrisons board exit their roles.

Group customer marketing and digital director Nick Collard, group retail director Martyn Fletcher and group property and strategy director Gordon Mowat all departed the retailer.

Group logistics director Neal Austin and convenience managing director Nigel Robertson also parted ways with the supermarket giant.

Morrisons later revealed that trading director Casper Meijer and HR director Emily Lawson had also exited. Lawson was unveiled as chief people officer at Kingfisher last week.

Potts has drafted in former B&Q commercial director and Matalan chief executive Darren Blackhurst as group commercial director, former Tesco executive Gary Mills as group retail director and Clare Grainger as group HR director.