The UK’s Co-op Group has announced today (2 October) that Alex Dower will be joining its senior team as managing director of its Retail business.
He brings with him over 30 years of experience in senior roles in retail, consumer goods and hospitality industries across the UK, US, Europe and Asia, with roles at Tesco, Mars, Pret A Manger, Harrods, PepsiCo and Woolworths Australia. Most recently, he led Holland & Barrett’s international division, where he oversaw a turnaround across multiple international markets.
The appointment comes on the back of several high-profile departures from the organisation over the summer, including Matt Hood, Nicole Tallant and Tom Bradley, and the recent announcement of a half-year loss of £45m.
Commenting on his appointment, Kate Allum, interim Group CEO said: “Alex brings a wealth of experience and a passion for building successful customer-focused businesses, in ways that make a meaningful difference to customers’ everyday lives.
“His personal values and leadership approach are fully aligned with our Co-op, and I’m excited about the impact he will have in driving our Food Retail business forward.”
In the new role, the Group says Dower will focus on accelerating Co-op Food retail growth, strengthening the customer proposition, supporting continued innovation across stores and digital channels, and “ensuring the business continues to deliver value for members while remaining true to Co-op’s purpose and values”.
Dower said: “I’m delighted to be joining Co-op at such an important time for the business.
“Co-op stores are woven into communities across the UK, and I’m looking forward to working with our fantastic colleagues to make it even more relevant to members and customers every day. Co-op’s purpose and values are what set it apart, and I’m excited to build upon the strong foundations already in place, accelerating growth and innovation, while staying true to what makes Co-op so special.”
