Andrew Staniland has decided to join Morrisons, leaving his planned role at Asda.
- He was initially set to start at Asda in March as a Vice President.
- Staniland will become Morrisons’ Group Trading Director in February, joining their executive committee.
- He brings experience from Iceland, Waitrose and Aldi, and has worked with Morrisons before.
- This comes as Asda faces potential job cuts amid an ongoing IT overhaul.
Andrew Staniland, who currently holds the position of group buying director at Iceland and The Food Warehouse, has opted not to join Asda as initially anticipated. Instead, he will assume a key role at Morrisons starting in February, where he will take on the position of Group Trading Director and become part of the executive committee.
Originally, Staniland was scheduled to begin a Vice President role at Asda in March. His recruitment was seen as a significant achievement for Asda, especially considering recent senior-level departures. However, with his decision to join Morrisons, Asda faces a notable setback.
Staniland’s extensive experience in the grocery sector is noteworthy. He has spent four years at Iceland as Trading Director. Prior to this, he gained valuable insights while working with major retailers such as Waitrose and Aldi. Furthermore, Staniland is not new to Morrisons, having previously undertaken various buying roles there. This familiarity with the organisation is expected to ease his transition into the new position.
Morrisons’ CEO, Rami Baitiéh, expressed his satisfaction with Staniland’s appointment. He highlighted Staniland’s exceptional talent and his strong track record in senior roles, which includes his time at both Iceland and Aldi. Baitiéh also acknowledged the contributions of James Badger, the outgoing Group Commercial Director, who will transition to the role of Group Strategy and Transformation Director.
Meanwhile, Asda is confronting impending challenges, particularly with its announcement of job reductions in the team overseeing its IT overhaul, which is slated for completion early next year.
Andrew Staniland’s move to Morrisons marks a significant transition, amid Asda’s current challenges.
