Asda has appointed David Potts as its chief executive with immediate effect as the UK supermarket continues to face difficulty growing sales. Potts, 69, previously led Morrisons from 2015 to 2023. Allan Leighton, 73, who has run Asda since 2024 as executive chair, will move into a non-executive role focused on the company’s long-term strategy.
Potts began his career at Tesco at the age of 16, later becoming head of its UK business. His appointment follows a lengthy search for a chief executive. It comes as a surprise after Leighton had indicated he expected to appoint someone from within Asda.
Asda’s sales fell 0.5% in the three months to 4 October, according to figures from market researcher Worldpanel by Numerator, despite efforts to lower prices and improve product ranges and stock availability. Aldi is close to overtaking Asda as the UK’s third-largest supermarket, with about one percentage point separating the two, according to the report.
Leighton said the business had stabilised and returned to some growth over the past two years, and described Potts’s industry experience as suited to Asda’s next stage of transformation. Potts said he was pleased to lead the company and would focus on improving customers’ shopping experience and maintaining low prices. He also highlighted the importance of keeping prices low over the Christmas period.
Sources: The Guardian Business.