Co-op Group, the Manchester-based mutual, has announced major changes to its leadership team as it “moves forwards into the next phase of its growth ambition.”

With more than 2,300 food stores, 800 funeral homes and a wholesale business supplying around 6,000 additional outlets, Co-op Group employs about 54,000 people.

The Co-op said Jerome Saint-Marc, its Managing Director for Growth, “has decided that it is the right time to pursue further opportunities outside of our Co-op.”

Katie Secretan, MD for Co-op Wholesale, will now report directly into CEO Shirine Khoury-Haq and will join the Co-op’s Operating Board. 

Wais Shaifta has agreed to join the Co-op leadership team and Operating Board as its new Chief Growth Officer with responsibility for Co-op Group Strategy and the delivery of the group’s future growth agenda.

“Wais joined our Group Board in February as an Independent Non-Executive Director and is stepping down from the Group Board to take up his new leadership role, with a search for his replacement on our Co-op Group Board now underway,” said Co-op Group.

The mutual, technically owned by roughly 6.2 million Co-op members, also said Matt Hood will lead a new Group Commercial and Logistics division within the Co-op as its Chief Commercial and Logistics Officer and continuing his role on the Operating Board.

“Matt will move from his current role of Co-op Food Managing Director and his extensive experience, expertise and commercial ability will deliver this new division for our Co-op,” said the mutual.

“The Group Commercial and Logistics division will be a cornerstone of our strategy; growing and realising revenue and profitability across multiple channels and creating opportunities with new partners and customers, in order to maximise scale and deliver real value to all parties.

“The new division will include expertise and buying power for both Goods for resale and Goods not for resale, servicing all Co-op stores, franchise, Independent Societies and Nisa, and creates a significant grocery buying group, which will be combined with our extensive logistics and supply operation.

“Matt will start the new role with immediate effect, and a search is now underway to recruit a new MD for our Food Retail business.

“In the Interim period the remaining Food leadership team will report directly into our Group CEO, Shirine Khoury-Haq.”