Co-op Group selects new chair

The Co-op Group has selected former Interserve chief executive Debbie White as its next chair.

She will replace Allan Leighton, who will stand down next February after nine years in the role.

The Co-op will then have women in the chair, chief executive, and chief finance officer roles, following the recent appointments of Shirine Khoury-Haq and Rachel Izzard.

Leighton said the group had “regained its financial strength” in recent years and White was “the ideal person” to take the business forwards.

“She has extensive business experience across a range of sectors and I’m personally delighted that she will join us at this exciting time, as our Co-op focuses on recruiting a million new members and providing top class products and services for our members and customers,” he said.

White will join the board in August and spend six months as an independent non-executive director.

White’s directorships include Spire Healthcare and Howden Joinery, while she was previously global chief executive for Sodexo’s healthcare and government division.

She added: “The Co-op is the original business with purpose, with ambitious plans to grow further in the coming years and I’m excited by the prospect of being a part of a business which exists to meet the needs of its members.”