Tesco loses general merchandise director

Tesco has been hit by another high-profile resignation, just three days before the company’s annual AGM meeting.

According to Sky News, Neela Mukherjee, Tesco’s UK general merchandise director chose to quit following a reshuffle of the Tesco UK management team.

Mukherjee had been in the role since November 2012 following spells in Tesco’s online division and in Malaysia.

Like-for-like sales at Tesco fell by 3.8 per cent in the quarter to the end of May as chief executive Philip Clarke said the performance was the worst he had known in his nearly 40 years at the company. Tesco hold 29 per cent of the grocery market, say Kantar, significantly higher than Asda (17.1 per cent) Sainsbury’s (16.5 per cent) and Morrisons (10.9 per cent.)

In a statement, Tesco said: “Neela has decided to pursue her career outside of Tesco. “She made a significant contribution in her 12 years at Tesco, both internationally and here in the UK.”

Chief executive Phillip Clarke has promoted group multichannel director Robin Terrell to take on responsibility for general merchandise, which includes electrical goods, homewares and stationery.

The news follows Tesco’s chief financial officer Laurie McIlwee quitting in April; the company is in the process of recruiting a new CFO.

Source : Michael Sommerville - Retail Gazette
www.retailgazette.co.uk/articles/42030-tescos-general-merchandise-director-quits