Britain’s Co-operative Group has announced that its chief executive officer, Steve Murrells, will step down in May 2022, after the AGM.
The board has named Shirine Khoury-Haq, the group CFO and CEO of Co-op Life Services, as its interim group chief executive.
Murrells commented, “I have had ten wonderful years at the Co-op and am very proud of all that we have achieved and how we’ve shown that a purpose-led organisation, focused on a strong vision of fairness and values, can make such a difference.”
Co-op Group recently commenced the process of appointing a new chairperson.
Murrells stated, “In such circumstances, I would either have needed to commit for another five years or step down now, to allow a new CEO to become established and allow a smooth transition to occur, ahead of a new chairman arriving. I have therefore chosen to take that step now.”
An Experienced Professional
Murrells has led the Co-op’s food business since 2012, and he stepped in as chief executive officer of the group in 2017.
Before joining Co-op, he served as the CEO of Danish meat company Tulip for three years.
Before this, he held senior leadership roles in European and UK-based food retail businesses, including One Stop, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.
Murrells serves as a non-executive director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership Ltd and the Prince’s Countryside Fund.
Allan Leighton, chair of Co-op, said, “Steve has done a tremendous job at the Co-op in his ten years of tenure and has been at the forefront of our transition. He is a top-class leader and person, and his legacy in the Co-op is firmly embedded.”
‘Excellent Leadership Skills’
Khoury-Haq brings “excellent leadership skills and a deep level of operational experience,” according to Leighton.
“She understands our Co-op, and I and the rest of the board look forward to working closely with her, going forward,” he added.
Commenting on her new role, Khoury-Haq said, “I am proud to be part of a wonderful organisation that contributes so much to our communities and our country.
“We have lots to do, and I am looking forward to working with my 60,000 colleagues, Allan, and our board to continue to make the Co-op a special place to work while providing great products and services to our customers and members.”
© 2022 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
