Pureplay retailer Shop Direct announced on Tuesday that it has appointed Jon Rudoe, currently Sainsbury's digital and technology director, to its executive board as retail and technology director.
He will start his new position in April 2017. Shop Direct will merge its IT teams with retail for the first time ever, the company said.
The etailer will focus on providing 'easy, inspiring and personalised customer experience' while sinking cash into new technology, particularly artificial intelligence.
Rudoe currently handles technology, digital businesses, digital and marketing innovation and user experience for Sainsbury's.
He will up his remit at Shop Direct, overseeing ecommerce, marketing, trading, commercial, business development, Very Exclusive and IT.
Rudoe was previously head of retail at UK online supermarket Ocado, and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Alex Baldock, group CEO of Shop Direct, said: "We’re delighted that Jon has chosen to join us at such a pivotal point in our transformation. With four consecutive years of sales and profit growth under our belts, his vast experience and expertise in digital, technology and trading will help us further accelerate our ambitious plans to become a world class digital retailer."
Rudoe commented on his new position: “As a pureplay etailer with a clear, proven strategy and a hunger to be at the forefront of customer-centred technological change, Shop Direct is arguably the most exciting place to be in UK retail right now.
Shop Direct is the UK's second largest online retailer, with annual sales of almost £1.9 billion.
© 2016 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Karen Henderson. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
