WANTED: STEADY HAND AT THE TILL
THE departure of Wm Morrison boss Marc Bolland won’t blow the supermarket off course, retail experts said yesterday as the Bradford-based company posted another set of strong sales figures and customer growth.
With Bolland sidelined ahead of taking the reins at Marks & Spencer in January, finance director Richard Pennycook took responsibility for yesterday’s trading update and all but put his hand up for the vacant chief executive role.
Other potential successors already being spoken of include M&S food boss JohnDixon, who was overlooked in the race to replace his executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose, and Paul Foley, who recently stepped down as UK and Ireland managing director of discounter Aldi.
Marks & Spencer finance director Ian Dyson, who lost out in the Rosesuccession race as well, is also said to be in the running, as is Tesco’s commercial director Richard Brasher and Asda’s head of merchandising Darren Blackhurst.
7-2
John Dixon
Marks & Spencer head of food
15-2
Paul Foley
Ex-Aldi boss
4-7
Richard Pennycock
WMMorrison finance director