Co-op appoints Alex Dower as retail managing director
Co-op has appointed Alex Dower as managing director of its retail business.
Until June, Dower was chief executive of Holland & Barrett’s international business. Before that, he held senior leadership roles at Tesco, Pret A Manger, Harrods, Woolworths Australia, Mars and PepsiCo.
Subscribe to TRBAt Holland & Barrett, he was credited with leading a significant turnaround across multiple international markets while helping to deliver sustained sales and profit growth.
At Co-op, he will be responsible for a convenience retailer with more than 2,300 stores, a quick commerce operation, and an annual turnover in excess of £7.25 billion.
His remit will include accelerating Co-op Food’s retail growth, strengthening the customer proposition and supporting continued innovation across stores and digital channels.
Dower said: “I’m delighted to be joining Co-op at such an important time for the business. Co-op stores are woven into communities across the UK, and I’m looking forward to working with our fantastic colleagues to make it even more relevant to members and customers every day.
“Co-op’s purpose and values are what set it apart, and I’m excited to build upon the strong foundations already in place, accelerating growth and innovation, while staying true to what makes Co-op so special.”
Kate Allum, Co-op interim group chief executive, said: “Alex brings a wealth of experience and a passion for building successful customer-focused businesses, in ways that make a meaningful difference to customers’ everyday lives. His personal values and leadership approach are fully aligned with our Co-op and I’m excited about the impact he will have in driving our food retail business forwards.“
