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Morrisons poaches former Asda BWS director for senior role
Morrisons has appointed Asda’s former chief customer officer to oversee ambient trading, which includes its beers, wines and spirits department.
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Barry Williams, who was category director of BWS at Asda for three years before becoming chief merchandising officer in 2012 and chief customer officer last January, will take over the role of trading director for ambient in February. Prior to joining Asda in 2009, he worked was trading director at Budgens, having cut his teeth at The Co-op and Kwik Save.
In addition to BWS, he will cover the retailers’ core grocery, household, health and beauty and baby goods, replacing Andy Pleasance, who is said to be moving within the company.
Morrisons group commercial director Darren Blackhurst said Williams would bring “a wealth of trading experience“ and relationships with food suppliers as well as a strong understanding of Morrisons customers.
“His arrival is another step in shaping a Morrisons team that will listen to and work hard for customers,” he said.
Williams said it was an exciting time to join the Bradford-based retailers as it continued its turnaround, saying it had “an offer that stands out in the market and a very clear direction”.
Shore Capital analyst Clive Black said Williams had a “considerable track record” to draw on, and noted his BWS experience, commenting that this was an area of “real strength” at Morrisons following its IWC win two years in a row. He said the appointment was “another notch” in the process to build its ecommerce.
“Williams brings an excellent capability to an empowered management team that is tight-knit and small in number,” Black said. “As such the capacity and capability of that new management team, given Williams knowledge of supply chains and customer insights, should be expanded.”
The Morrisons wine team is led by Steve Mosey, category director BWS and Impulse, who has been in the role since 2011.