Co-op Food boss won’t return after taking career break
The boss of Co-op Food, who took a career break in May to help her sons through their exams, won’t return to her role, it has been announced.
Chief executive Jo Whitfield stepped away for four months having first taken up the job in 2017. She has previously worked for Asda, Matalan and GE Capital.
She will be succeeded by commercial director Matt Hood who will become managing director of Co-op Food.
Jo Whitfield said: “I always knew that this year would be a big year with my boys undertaking key exams. We decided as a family, that in order to prepare for the inevitable pressure and emotional turmoil that would involve, that when the time came, I would look to spend more time with them to ease the challenge.
“I can take this time away reassured by the knowledge we have a strong food leadership team who will keep moving our Co-op forward, working with support and guidance from Steve Murrells, our Co-op CEO.”
Mr Murrells added: “We will miss Jo and wish her and her family well over the coming months.”
Jo Whitfield has been CEO of Co-op Food since March 2017, having first joined the Manchester-headquartered group as the division’s chief financial officer in April 2016.
