The Board of Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC announces today the appointment of Marc Bolland to succeed Bob Stott as Chief Executive of the Group. Marc Bolland, aged 47, will take up his new position on 1 September 2006.
Marc Bolland is currently Chief Operating Officer and executive board member of Heineken N.V. as well as non-executive director of Manpower Inc. Marc has held a number of senior roles at Heineken over the last 20 years, amongst which has been the responsibility for the Heineken brand strategy and the company’s marketing strategy. Currently living in Amsterdam, Marc will move to Yorkshire on taking up his appointment.
Marc will chair the Morrisons Executive Board taking responsibility for the Group’s overall commercial and strategic development and delivering the Optimisation Plan.
David Jones will retire as Director at the end of June 2006. David joined the Board in 2004 and was appointed Deputy Chairman in 2005. He also held the position of Senior Independent Director. Following David’s retirement, Paul Manduca will become Senior Independent Director. A search has commenced to find a Deputy Chairman who will eventually succeed Sir Ken Morrison who recently announced his intention to retire as Chairman and Director of Morrisons by January 2008.
Sir Ken Morrison said:
“I am delighted to have appointed Marc Bolland as Chief Executive of Morrisons. Marc has a wealth of experience operating in a highly competitive consumer products sector and also brings extensive commercial and leadership skills to the Group which will ensure its continued progress.”
“With Marc we will have an excellent management team and I am confident that under his new leadership the Group will take up its rightful position as The Best Grocer in Town, and in so doing deliver sustainable profit growth for the benefit of all our stakeholders.”
Commenting on Bob Stott’s retirement, Sir Ken said: “Bob has been a major contributor to the development of the Group over the last 10 years, since re-joining the business. I would like to express my personal gratitude to Bob for his support and wise counsel over the years.”
Sir Ken thanked David Jones for his contribution to Morrisons since 2004 saying: “David has made a notable contribution to the Board over the last two years and has been very supportive during a period of major change.”
Marc Bolland said: “This is a great opportunity for me to head one of the UK’s leading companies, and I am looking forward to the challenge.”
