Alison Hands (pictured below), the managing director of wilko, is to leave the business to become the CEO of Lincolnshire Co-op.
Ursula Lidbetter, the current CEO of Lincolnshire Co-op, is retiring after 37 years with the society, 18 of which as CEO. Alison, who previously held the roles of Trading Director and Commercial Execution Director at wilko, will join Lincolnshire Co-op in April 2023.
Steve Galjaard, wilko's Chief Financial Officer, is to become acting Chief Executive, alongside his current role, until Hands leaves the business.
In a post on LinkedIn, Lincolnshire Co-Op said:
"We’re delighted to announce that we have appointed Alison Hands, currently Managing Director at Wilko, as our new Chief Executive Officer.
"Alison is set to join us in April 2023. She brings over 33 years’ experience in a diverse mix of retail environments and will be a worthy successor to our current CEO, Ursula Lidbetter.
"Ursula, who announced her retirement in March this year after 37 years with Lincolnshire Co-op, will retire at the end of December. We’re looking forward to helping her celebrate, and saying thank you, over the coming weeks."
Alison Hands said: “I’m honoured to be joining this values-driven organisation, which continues to build on its success, whilst delivering its purpose to make life better in communities.
“I’m excited to be charged with leading the society through the next phase of its development, as we collectively tackle the challenges of the current external environment.”
Source : Insight DIY Team
For all the very latest news and intelligence on the UK's largest home improvement and garden retailers, sign up for the Insight DIY weekly newsletter.
27 November 2022