Last checked at 14 Mar 2023 09:00
Co-operative Group Limited
14 March 2023
Co-op announces appointment of Adrian Marsh as a Director and Chair of the Risk and Audit Committee
Co-operative Group Limited (Co-op) is pleased to announce that Adrian Marsh will be joining our Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of our Risk and Audit Committee.
Adrian brings a wealth of executive and non-executive experience, having recently announced his intention to retire from his role as Group Finance Director at FTSE 100 packaging company, DS Smith, after 10 years in the role. Adrian is also a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of John Wood plc and previously held senior finance positions at Tesco and AstraZeneca.
Co-op is delighted to welcome Adrian's deep Board experience at a time when our Board will be undergoing change, as we progress the search for our new Chair and Senior Independent Director, as the terms of office of both Allan Leighton and Chris Kelly will come to an end in the next 12 months.
Adrian will succeed Simon Burke, who has been a member of the Co-op Board since inception in its current form in November 2014 (initially as a Transitional Director and then subsequently as an Independent Non-Executive Director). Prior to joining the Co-op Board, Simon also sat on the Board of the Group's principal subsidiary, Co-operative Food Holdings Ltd. Simon has chaired the Risk and Audit Committee since June 2015.
Allan Leighton, Co-op Chair commented "Simon has made a significant contribution to the development of our Co-op over the past 9 years, especially in helping us to strengthen our risk and audit framework. He leaves us with our sincerest thanks and appreciation.
"Adrian joins our Co-op at an exciting time as we move forwards in developing our Food and Life Services business areas. His depth and breadth of commercial experience will prove highly valuable as we seek to create sustainable value for the benefit of our members and their communities."
Simon will oversee the preparation and audit of our 2022 annual report and accounts, which are due to be published in April 2023, and will step down at the end of April. Adrian will formally join our Board on May 1.
Ends
Further information:
Russ Brady - Co-op
Tel: 07880 784442
Notes:
Co-op is one of the world's largest consumer co-operatives with interests across food, funerals, insurance and legal services. Owned by millions of UK consumers, the Co-op operates over 2,500 food stores, over 800 funeral homes and provides products to over 5,000 other stores, including those run by independent co-operative societies and through its wholesale business, Nisa Retail Limited.
Employing almost 60,000 people, the Co-op has an annual turnover of over £11billion and is a recognised leader for its social goals and community-led programmes. The Co-op exists to meet members' needs and stand up for the things they believe in.