Co-op has named Alex Dower as its managing director for retail, with the firm saying his appointment comes as the business seeks to “maintain business momentum”.
Dower joins Co-op following stints at Tesco, Holland & Barrett, Pret A Manger, Harrods, Woolworths Australia, Mars and PepsiCo, and his reputation is said to be one that “combines commercial success with a strong sense of purpose”.
Co-op will be hoping he will boost the business’ fortunes after a set of challenging financial results for the first six months of the year.
Dower is said to have spearheaded “a major transformation of the retailer’s fresh food offer” during his time as chief commercial officer with Australian supermarket chain Woolworths, and has “led complex transformations” throughout his career, heading a “significant turnaround” during his time as Holland & Barrett’s international chief executive.
Co-op says the focus of his new rolle will be to accelerate retail growth, strengthen the customer proposition and support “continued innovation across stores and digital channels”.
Kate Allum, Co-op’s interim group chief executive comments: “Alex brings a wealth of experience and a passion for building successful customer-focused businesses, in ways that make a meaningful difference to customers’ everyday lives. His personal values and leadership approach are fully aligned with our Co-op and I’m excited about the impact he will have in driving our Food Retail business forwards.”
Dower himself says: “I’m delighted to be joining Co-op at such an important time for the business. Co-op stores are woven into communities across the UK, and I’m looking forward to working with our fantastic colleagues to make it even more relevant to members and customers every day. Co-op’s purpose and values are what set it apart, and I’m excited to build upon the strong foundations already in place, accelerating growth and innovation, while staying true to what makes Co-op so special.”
