Former Asda adversary joins Morrisons’ senior team
A FORMER Asda executive who once quipped that quantitative easing “is alive and well in Bradford” in the midst of the supermarket wars has been hired by the one-time rival firm.
Barry Williams, formerly chief customer officer at the Leeds-based business has changed sides and will be working for David Potts at Morrisons as trading director for ambient.
He quit Asda after eight years at the business but only 12 months as chief customer officer. He was part of Andy Clarke’s turnaround team before Walmart stepped in, bringing with it new chief executive Sean Clarke and another former Walmart executive Andy Murray to take over from Mr Williams as part of a downsizing exercise.
Mr Williams will join the chain from February next year according to Retail Week. He will be taking over from Andy Pleasance who is moving to special projects division.
A statement from Morrisons said: “Barry brings a wealth of trading experience and relationships with food suppliers as well as a strong understanding of our customers,” group commercial director Darren Blackhurst said.
“His arrival is another step in shaping a Morrisons team that will listen to and work hard for customers.”
He made headlines in 2014 as the supermarket wars escalated, harpooning Asda’s rivals for their use of vouchers, accusing them of “printing £5 notes”, though it seems to be water under the bridge for Morrisons, who are slowly gaining on rivals Asda which reported its worst-ever sales drop last quarter.
