Central England Co-op COO and CFO announce plans to retire

Central England Co-op has announced that its chief operating officer and chief finance officer are set to retire.

The company said that COO Tracey Orr and CFO Louise McFadzean have played pivotal roles in delivering success at one of largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK over the past 36 years and 18 years respectively.

Under their leadership, at half year this year the retailer saw results of +6.4% to £486.4m, with trading profit up from £11.4m to £19.3m.

The pair will leave their roles in the summer of 2021 and the recruitment process for their successors is currently underway.

Debbie Robinson, Central England Co-op chief executive, said: “Thanks to the inspiring leadership of Tracey and Louise, the Society is in a solid financial position, with exciting developments on the horizon, particularly around new channels to market in both our food and funeral businesses.

“On behalf of the board, our colleagues, members and customers, and myself, I want to extend our most sincere thanks to Tracey and Louise for the outstanding job that they have done, and the strong position in which they will leave the Society.

“We wish them every success in the future.”