Sainsbury’s has hired former Ocado head of retail Jon Rudoe to strengthen is multichannel team.

Rudoe will join on July 11 as director of online, reporting into group commercial director Mike Coupe.

It has also created a new role, director of digital, reporting into group development director Luke Jensen. Current director of direct channels Tanya Lawler will take up this role.

Rudoe’s responsibilities at Ocado included marketing, website and products and prior to that he worked in venture capital and consulting at Bain. At Sainsbury’s he will look after the day to day running of Sainsbury’s online grocery and non-food business.

Lawler will have responsibility for developing and implementing the digital and cross channel strategy.

Coupe said: “I am very excited to welcome Jon to the team and I have no doubt he will be a real success. He has been instrumental in the recent growth of Ocado and I know he will bring the same commitment, knowledge and enthusiasm to Sainsbury’s. He has all of the skills to take Sainsbury’s online vision to the next stage and I look forward to working with him.

“Since joining Sainsbury’s Tanya has made a huge impact on our online operation and has taken it from strength to strength. She was instrumental in launching our non-food website and has overseen record growth in our online grocery service. This new role will enable her to focus on the increasingly diverse ways in which our customers will interact with Sainsbury’s in future years. I am sure she will prove to be a huge success in her new position.”